TORONTO —
Canada’s democracy is growing stronger thanks to robust engagement in politics among Canadians, but the global outlook is more troubling, according to a new report.
The report cited several surveys that suggest Canadians are relatively plugged in to the news and interested in politics, both domestically and the U.S. For instance, more than three-quarters of Canadians said they were either very or somewhat interested in the 2020 U.S. election, according to a poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies.
But the report also cited the WE Charity scandal as a weak spot for Canada. The Liberal government faced intense scrutiny after awarding a contract for up to $43.5 million to the charity, which had ties to the families of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau. Morneau resigned in the wake of the scandal and an ethics probe was launched.
COVID-19 appeared to have the strongest impact on Canada’s democracy score, according to the report, which cited government restrictions as dragging down Canada’s score for functioning of government. While lockdowns and public safety measures such as mask-wearing were adopted on the advice of public health experts, the report suggested that attempts to “censor” sceptics present serious problems.
“The withdrawal of civil liberties, attacks on freedom of expression and the failures of democratic accountability that occurred as a result of the pandemic are grave matters,” the report said, referring to worldwide concerns.
Modelling throughout the pandemic has repeatedly shown how targeted lockdown measures have directly reduced the number of people infected by COVID-19, and in turn, the number of deaths.
Globally, democracy is going through a difficult moment, according to the report. Nearly 70 per cent of countries recorded a drop in their total democracy score. Canada was an outlier, among the 22 per cent of countries that saw an improvement.
The report ranks countries on a scale of one to 10, and the average global score fell to 5.37, down from 5.44 — the worst global average since the index began. There are several reasons, but the report’s authors say government-imposed restrictions on personal freedoms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 played a large role.
Only about half of the world’s population lives in some sort of democracy, and only 8.4 per cent live in what is considered a “full democracy” — a label that reflects countries with stable political cultures, independent and diverse media and effective systems of checks and balances.
The United States fell from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy” in the wake of the 2016 election and has yet to regain its spot. A flawed democracy is a state where free and fair elections are held but there remain significant weaknesses in other areas, such as problems in governance. Other “flawed democracies” include France, Israel, Italy and Greece.
In dead last on the list was North Korea, which scored zero points for electoral process and pluralism and civil liberties, with a 2.5 out of 10 for functioning of government.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
