Rais Bhuiyan forgave the man who tried to kill him in a hate crime, then campaigned to save him from the death penalty
Ten days after the September 11th attacks in the U.S., Texan Mark Stroman entered the gas station where Rais Bhuiyan was working, asked “Where are you from?” and then shot him in the face. Rais, who is from Bangladesh, was one of three victims shot during Stroman’s revenge attacks on “Arabs,” and the only one to survive. (more…)
Gloria Taylor is given the right to physician-assisted suicide but observers expect the federal Conservative government will challenge the ruling
A recent British Columbia court ruling has struck down the law that makes physician-assisted death illegal in Canada. The June 15, 2012 ruling [opens to PDF] found that the current law violates the constitutional rights of the three plaintiffs, including Gloria Taylor, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease. The landmark legal challenge was launched by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. (more…)
Government surprises many with a host of changes that are designed to support vulnerable families
The British Columbia government surprised many on June 11, 2012 when it announced a long list of changes to welfare assistance in the province. Premier Christy Clark made the announcement, which was described as the first pillar of her Families First Agenda: Supporting Vulnerable Families. The changes and initiatives are designed to “help build a stronger foundation for B.C. families to help them become self-sufficient”. (more…)
Transgender Canadians have won a few significant victories in the ongoing struggle for acceptance and recognition
Canada’s transgender community, after lengthy struggles with discrimination and bureaucratic obstacles, is now celebrating a series of significant victories, reports the Montreal Gazette. Montreal’s Concordia University has become the second university in the country to allow transgender students to use their chosen name in class and on their ID. Passport Canada is considering making passports genderless. And, with considerable media attention, Jenna Talackova was given permission to compete in the Miss Universe Canada, held in Toronto. (more…)
A community dialogue in Nanaimo provides opportunities tor youth to listen, be heard, and make change
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society will present an opportunity for youth to speak openly about experiences and concerns related to discrimination and hate crime in an event on Saturday April 21, 2012. Those who attend will be able to gain mutual appreciation for what the experiences of hate are—and what can collectively be done to change what hate looks like in our communities. (more…)
Governments say they can’t afford poverty reduction policies but fail to consider the cost paid for consequences of poverty
Poverty is a hardship for those who experience it; it’s also costly to society. Governments say they can’t afford poverty reduction policies like investing in new social housing, increasing welfare, or providing universal access to child care. But they fail to consider the resources spent, year after year, paying for the consequences of poverty.
British Columbia has the highest poverty rate in Canada [opens to PDF] and no plan to tackle it directly. A recent private member’s Bill proposing a BC Poverty Reduction Act, if adopted, would see the government develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy within one year, including legislated targets and timelines to reduce poverty in the province. (more…)
