The NS Mass Casualty Commission issued an update this week on their progress, as we approach the March 31st (extended) deadline for their report. I review the update, and a talk with St. F.X. students I will be giving this week.
Small Claims Court Adjudicator, Tuma Young K.C. issued a decision this week in the Mi'kmaw language. In doing so, he referenced the Mi'kmaw Language Act which was passed last year, and which enshrined Mi'kmaw as Nova Scotia's 'first' language.
The devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburg is attempting to pass gender recognition legislation that is generating major controversy and push-back in the UK. Canada has been cited as an example by the governing SNP of how such legislation might operate.
British Columbia is starting a three-year pilot project, with the approval of the federal government, to legalize the possession of up to 2.5 grams of hard drugs, in an effort to treat the issue as one best primarily dealt with as a public health matter. I discuss how this is expected to work, and why it does not directly address the main cause of the thousands of deaths this policy is designed to prevent.
Finally, I review two cases released by the Supreme Court of Canada last week dealing with Charter challenges to the validity of mandatory minimum sentences in cases involving gun violence. The defendants claimed that reasonable hypothetical situations showed that the mandatory minimum sentences amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The Court agreed in one case but not in the other. I explain why, and why some may prefer Justice Cote's dissenting opinion in the one where the Court struck down the law.

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This week in The Rodgers Brief, I review the pending dispute in the federal election boundaries in Cape Breton. One MP neglected to speak up when consultations were ongoing, and is now trying to claim that the boundary changes violate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In other NS cases, a man was convicted after confessing to a sexual assault and attempting to claim his diabetes may have affected his thinking when he made his confession.
William Sandeson's trial continued this week, with warnings from Justice Chipman for the jury to not be influenced by anything they read in the news. That would include the news reports from the original trial, and also the story this week about the Canada-wide arrest warrant issued for one of the Crown witnesses.
Finally, I review a case out of the NS Supreme Court of a woman who applied to be allowed to move with her four-year old to Ottawa, away from the child's father. Mobility cases can be a challenge, and this one provides some helpful guidance for those considering the same.
I also discuss the shortage of Judges in NS, and some national news stories involving repatriation of ISIS-involved Canadians, the Shaw/Rogers merger appeal decision, and the lack of evidence on allegations that the Alberta Premier interfered with the prosecution of Coutts, Alberta trucker/freedom protestors.

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There were some interesting cases out of Nova Scotia this week, including the Crown's successful appeal of Colin Tweedy's acquittal on the death of 10 year old Talia Forrest, and the retrial of Dal Med student William Sanderson for the murder of fellow student Taylor Samson.
There is a new Federal tax in place, which seem to be encroaching on Provincial jurisdiction. The Underused Housing Act targets residential properties that are owned by non-citizens or non-residents, and imposes an annual tax of 1% of the value.
The big story of the week internationally is the announcement that Alec Baldwin would be arrested for involuntary manslaughter (the equivalent of Criminal Negligence Causing Death in the Canadian Criminal Code) following the shooting death of the cinematographer on the set of the film 'Rust' in 2021. Baldwin had a gun that was to be a prop in the film. The charges should not have been laid against Baldwin, and this seems to be an effort by the District Attorney to get her 15 minutes.

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In this video, the final video of the series, I read from Deficits of Trust, Part 3, sections 15-16 The Future of Policing is Not Present; Ending Without Closing; Summary of Recommendations

The Rodgers Brief report is also available as an ebook through the following retailers;

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/.../deficits-...
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Sea...
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940...
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9...

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In this video, I read from Deficits of Trust, Part 3, sections 13-14 - Lisa Banfield Answers No Real Questions, Avoids Criminal Charges; The MCC Really Wants You to Know It Cares About Domestic Violence

The Rodgers Brief report is also available as an ebook through the following retailers;

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/.../deficits-...
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Sea...
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940...
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9...

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In this video, I read from Deficits of Trust, Part 3, sections 11-12 Unnecessary Accommodations for Senior RCMP Officers Leads to Participant Boycotts; Critical Incident Experts Not Permitted to Criticize Incident

The Rodgers Brief report is also available as an ebook through the following retailers;

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/.../deficits-...
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Sea...
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940...
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9...

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This week, I focus mainly on Nova Scotia cases, including the tragic death of 37-year old mother of three, Allison Holtoff, and the legal threats made by the Provincial Department of Justice to Independent MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin. MLA Smith-McCrossin was speaking out on behalf of her constituent, alongside Ms. Holtoff's husband Gunter, after Ms. Holtoff died after a six-hour wait at the emergency room of the Cumberland Regional Health Centre. The executive director of legal services, Michelle Higgins, wrote the MLA, threatening her with legal action if she did not take down a letter which she had posted to Facebook about the incident.
Other Nova Scotia cases in the news include two decisions dealing with food, social, and ceremonial fishing licenses held by aboriginal fishers, a civilian review of an RCMP officer tasering an armed forces veteran, a delay of 49 months leading to a dangerous driving charge being stayed, and the re-trial of Dalhousie medical student William Sanderson on a murder charge.
Finally, I review the allegations against Jordan Peterson by the Ontario College of Psychologists, and the decision to make him take social media training.

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In this video, I read from Deficits of Trust, Part 3, sections 9-10 - Disorienting, Not Trauma Informed, Approach to Evidence, Attending the MCC In Person - More Like a Seminar, Withholding Big Stop Videos

The Rodgers Brief report is also available as an ebook through the following retailers;

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/.../deficits-...
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Sea...
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940...
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9...

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In this video, I read from Deficits of Trust, Part 3, sections 5-8 - Pausing Before Starting - Delay for Narrative Formation, Marginalization of MCC Participants, and Early Outlook for the MCC and Police Intelligence Questioning

The Rodgers Brief report is also available as an ebook through the following retailers;

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/.../deficits-...
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Sea...
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940...
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9...

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