Canada Abortion thread.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Hey CC How many cases actually make it to the Supreme court percentage wise compared to the US. It seems to my barely paying attention brain that the Court here doesn't have to deal with as many big issue cases as they do down south, but maybe they aren't as highly publicized?

The SCC decides fundamental cases all the time.  If you scan the newspapers just this week you will see SCC decisions mentioned in several articles.  One issue they are currently deciding which will probably be of interest to you is whether the decision to close the Insite injection location is a Federal or Provincial matter and whether the Charter would prevent the Feds from closing it if it is a Federal decision.

Oh yeah I forgot about that one. I don't think it is a federal issue. It's a local place that has been very successful in keeping people off junk and or dying. But I don't think the Fed cares about that at all, all they see is an opportunity to make hay from people's fears of crime. To me it's sad that that it's even an issue.

The arguments on both sides are more complex.  BTW not all the drug treatment side of the issue believe Insite is a good idea.

If you really want to learn about it you should read the BCCA decision.  The majority held that evidence that Insite reduces harm to the people using it essentially justifies its existance however the Minority reasons thought that was too narrow an analysis and that the question was related to harm to society as a whole not just reduction of harm to the junkies who used the clinic.  The Minority was concerned that allowing addicts to continue to service their addictions did not reduce harm at all but rather encouraged people generally to continue using drugs.

I think this decision is going to be a tough one for the SCC.

I agree completely with your final statement here. It will and should be a tough decision.  I don't see how managing an addiction to the point of sobriety is encouraging people to use drugs. But then that's just my opinion. Maybe we should shut down all the AA meetings? which matters not to the powers that be. My suspicion is that it will get closed down, and crime rates will go up. More jails will be built, housing more of the population in order for blackberry and visa etc to get free/cheap labor.

and The base of our majority government will be smiling. the rest of us will be shaking our heads and mumbling to ourselves.

[crazy canuck]

Congrats to Canada for being fiscally responsible enough to actually be worrying about stuff like abortion right now. The rest of the developed world is too worried about keeping the roof from collapsing.

You should note that nobody is worrying about this.  Buddha posted about a non event that appears to be a bunch of yanks holding sings outside our Parliament for some reason.

[Malthus]

Congrats to Canada for being fiscally responsible enough to actually be worrying about stuff like abortion right now. The rest of the developed world is too worried about keeping the roof from collapsing.

You should note that nobody is worrying about this.  Buddha posted about a non event that appears to be a bunch of yanks holding sings outside our Parliament for some reason.

Really, we should be praising the Americans, for having an economy so robust that they can spend their vacations doing that. 

[Josephus]

There was a pro-Life rally outside parliament yesterday, but A) I don't think anybody was actually in Parliament and B) I think it's an annual event that buses in a lot of Catholic school kids and isn't supposed to mean that the debate's heating up again or anything.

[crazy canuck]

Are you really trying to sell me that no SC judge has ever been nominated because either of his party affiliation or donation to a party? Really?

Yes really.  Again can you can name anyonethat has been appointed to the SCC because of party affliliation.  Also your suggestion that SCC judges have been appointed because of some kind of donation is silly.

[Josephus]

Congrats to Canada for being fiscally responsible enough to actually be worrying about stuff like abortion right now. The rest of the developed world is too worried about keeping the roof from collapsing.

You should note that nobody is worrying about this.  Buddha posted about a non event that appears to be a bunch of yanks holding sings outside our Parliament for some reason.

Really, we should be praising the Americans, for having an economy so robust that they can spend their vacations doing that. 

They're actually unemployed not on vacation. 

[Neil]

If jailing scumbag addicts is wrong, I don't want to be right.

[grumbler]

If jailing scumbag addicts is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Not to worry.  You are not.

[Neil]

If jailing scumbag addicts is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Not to worry.  You are not.

Go away.

[Malthus]

They're actually unemployed not on vacation. 

Then we'll praise America for not employing people like that. USA! USA!

[Grey Fox]

Are you really trying to sell me that no SC judge has ever been nominated because either of his party affiliation or donation to a party? Really?

Yes really.  Again can you can name anyonethat has been appointed to the SCC because of party affliliation.  Also your suggestion that SCC judges have been appointed because of some kind of donation is silly.

I've got one, you ain't going to like it. Télesphore Fournier.

[crazy canuck]

I've got one, you ain't going to like it. Télesphore Fournier.

[Grey Fox]

I've got one, you ain't going to like it. Télesphore Fournier.

Right? Dude only got the job because he was a Liberal.

[Barrister]

Can you name a SCC judge that was appointed because of party membership?  I am not even asking you to defend your notion that it usually happens.  I am asking you to name just one.

Never argued that the judges were nominated solely because they were party members, I'm not questioning their competency. Only that it plays a big role in the nomination process, not just of SC judges, but all judges. This is well-known.

Name me one SCC judge that was nominated despite his party affiliation to an opposing party. These are much rarer.

Drakken, I've known some superior court judges (i.e. trial court) who were fairly obvious political appointments.  But for the Court of Appeal and higher both parties have been pretty careful to appoint only well qualified candidates - most of whom have no obvious poltical connections.

[crazy canuck]

I've got one, you ain't going to like it. Télesphore Fournier.

Right? Dude only got the job because he was a Liberal.

Oh, you were being serious.