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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
New laws against blocking access to places of worship, schools coming, Fraser says
OTTAWA – Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Liberal government will press ahead with plans for new criminal provisions against blocking access to places or worship, schools and community centres. The measures, promised during the recent federal election campaign, would also create a criminal offence of wilfully intimidating or threatening people attending events at these venues. The minister's statement comes as civil libertarians point to existing provisions intended to curb such behaviour and push back against the idea of new measures that could infringe on freedom of expression and assembly. Tensions have risen in Canadian communities over public protests, many prompted by the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. Several Canadian municipalities have taken steps recently to mandate 'bubble zones' that restrict protest activity near such places as religious institutions, schools and child care centres. 'It's not lost on me that there will be different levels of government that try to address this challenge in different ways,' Fraser said, adding that the federal government has an opportunity — where behaviour crosses a criminal threshold — to legislate in that space. 'We clearly have seen challenges when it comes to certain religious communities in Canada who are facing extraordinary discrimination — antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate,' Fraser said in a recent interview. 'People need to know that in Canada they are free to pray to the God of their choice and to, at the same time, freely express themselves, but not to the point where you threaten the protected Charter rights of a religious minority.' James Turk, director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University, said he questions the need for new provisions and suggests politicians are proposing penalties simply to appear to be doing something. He said existing laws against mischief, nuisance and interfering with religious celebrations can be used to deal with the kinds of behaviour the federal government wants to address. 'I haven't heard a single thing that isn't already illegal, so it's a waste of time. It adds confusion to the Criminal Code and it suggests that they're only engaged in performative activity,' Turk said. 'They want to be seen to be doing something about this pressure they're under.' Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, also said she wonders about the scope of the proposed new federal provisions 'and if they are necessary or simply duplicative of existing criminal offences.' Bussières McNicoll said it's important to remember that a protest might be disruptive but also protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms' guarantee of peaceful assembly. 'As a parent myself, I know that any protest can be sometimes scary for a child. We're talking about loud voices, huge crowds, emotions are running high,' she said. 'So I believe it's part of my role as a parent to teach my child about what living in a democracy means, why we need protests, why we need space in our society for strong language — including language that we disagree with — and to teach my child about what we can do if we personally disagree with speech that we hear.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy at B'nai Brith Canada, said that while the organization welcomes the planned new federal provisions, additional federal measures are needed. B'nai Brith wants national 'vulnerable infrastructure legislation' that would prohibit protests within a certain distance of a place of worship or school, or perhaps during specific time periods, if they interfere with someone's ability to attend the institutions, Robertson said. 'That would remove the need for municipalities and provinces to adopt legislation, and it would send a clear message that across Canada, individuals do not have the right to prevent others from accessing their houses of worship and their community centres and cultural institutions.' — With files from Anja Karadeglia This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
News briefs for Friday, June 27, 2025
A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Friday, June 27, 2025 8:06 PM Manitoba's Carter Bear was selected 13th-overall by the Detroit Red Wings on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft. Bear is from Peguis First Nation and grew up in West St. Paul. The 18-year-old has played the last three seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. He had 82 points (40G, 42A) in 56 regular-season games last year before suffering a cut Achilles which required surgery. Conor Geekie was the last Manitoban to be selected in the first round, going 11th-overall to the Arizona Coyotes back in 2022. 3:19 PM A Beausejour man has been sentenced to five years in prison after an investigation into illegal gun manufacturing, the Canada Border Services Agency says. Robert Ripcik, 57, was arrested on March 12, 2024. He pleaded guilty in Selkirk provincial court to three gun charges under the Criminal Code and two offences under the Customs Act and was sentenced Friday. The CBSA's investigation began when border officers examined a shipment in April 2023 and found items related to the production of firearms without serial numbers. Such weapons are known as ghost guns because the firearms aren't easily traceable. Mounties searched a rural property near Chatfield in March 2024 and seized guns and a 3D printer, among other items. CBSA officers returned to the property the next month and seized more items. 10:09 AM A teen was taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was attacked by a large group of males wielding machetes in Thompson on Tuesday. RCMP were sent to an open area off Duke Place at 4:40 a.m. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening, police said in a news release Friday. Officers eventually arrested an 18-year-old man and two younger males, ages 17 and 16. The man is charged with aggravated assault, while the younger males were released and given a court date. More arrests are expected, RCMP said. 9:40 AM A failure in a lithium-ion battery or charger is the suspected cause of a house fire on Magnus Avenue. Crews were sent to the one-and-a-half-storey home on the 400 block at 10:03 p.m. Thursday and declared the fire under control at 10:30 p.m. The City of Winnipeg's emergency social services team was contacted to help displaced residents, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release Friday.
Toronto Sun
12 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Man, 46, charged in National Holocaust Monument vandalism
Man, 46, charged in National Holocaust Monument vandalism The Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa was vandalized on June 09, 2025. Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia A 46-year-old man faces a number of charges after the National Holocaust Memorial was vandalized with red paint on June 9. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The man, who has not been named, has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. He is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday. The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was sprayed with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street. Red paint was also sprayed along the building's facade. The monument was opened in 2017 and commemorates the extermination of six million Jews who were killed in the Second World War. In 2014, the Criminal Code was amended to add the charge of mischief to a war memorial. The definition applies to a property 'that primarily serves as a monument to honour persons who were killed or died as a consequence of a war, including a war memorial or cenotaph, or an object associated with honouring or remembering those persons that is located in or on the grounds of such a building or structure, or a cemetery.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If the offence is prosecuted by indictment, it is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If the offence is punishable on summary conviction, it may lead to a sentence of up to 18 months. The Ottawa police hate and bias crime unit is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information to contact their tip line at 613-236-1222, extension 5625. 'The OPS treats incidents of this nature seriously and recognizes their profound impact on the community,' said Ottawa police in a statement. 'We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents to report them to police. Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping cycles of hatred.' Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Read More Music Canada Crime Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors
Calgary Herald
13 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Jury begins deliberations in case of Calgary man accused of torturing and killing multiple rabbits
The fate of suspected Calgary serial rabbit killer Nicholas Weseen is now in the hands of jurors — at least for now. Article content The 12-member Calgary Court of King's Bench jury began their deliberations Friday afternoon after hearing final legal instructions from Justice Michel Bourque. Article content Article content But if they find Weseen guilty on any of the 13 animal abuse charges Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood is seeking convictions on, his lawyer will likely ask for an assessment of his client. Article content Article content Defence counsel Eric Nelson-Addy told Bourque earlier this week he will seek psychiatric testing on his client to determine if he qualifies for a defence of not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disorder. Article content Article content 'There are reasonable grounds for such an assessment,' Nelson-Addy told the judge during proceedings in the absence of the jury. Article content Under the Criminal Code, portions of a court proceeding conducted in the absence of jurors are subject to a publication ban until they retire to deliberate the case. Article content Nelson-Addy said both his client's interview with Calgary police Det. Mark Weir and evidence from Weseen's former girlfriend Amy Miko, raised concerns about his client's mental health. Article content During his Jan. 22, 2023, police interview Weseen told Weir that when the rabbits were being harmed and killed it felt like someone else took over his body. Article content Article content 'It literally feels like there's a second person in control,' the city man said. Article content But in her closing arguments to jurors on Thursday, Greenwood asked jurors to ignore what she referred to as a 'charade' by Weseen to justify his unlawful behaviour by blaming the abuse on his alter ego. Article content Nelson-Addy had argued for an outright acquittal saying the Crown had failed to prove its case against Weseen beyond a reasonable doubt. Article content The assessment, if ordered by Bourque, would look into whether Weseen was suffering a mental disorder at the time which rendered him incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of his actions and that what he was doing was wrong. Article content
Ottawa Citizen
14 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Man, 46, charged in National Holocaust Monument vandalism
A 46-year-old man faces a number of charges after the National Holocaust Memorial was vandalized with red paint on June 9. Article content The man, who has not been named, has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. Article content He is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday. Article content The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was sprayed with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street. Red paint was also sprayed along the building's facade. The monument was opened in 2017 and commemorates the extermination of six million Jews who were killed in the Second World War. Article content Article content In 2014, the Criminal Code was amended to add the charge of mischief to a war memorial. Article content Article content The definition applies to a property 'that primarily serves as a monument to honour persons who were killed or died as a consequence of a war, including a war memorial or cenotaph, or an object associated with honouring or remembering those persons that is located in or on the grounds of such a building or structure, or a cemetery.' Article content If the offence is prosecuted by indictment, it is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If the offence is punishable on summary conviction, it may lead to a sentence of up to 18 months. Article content The Ottawa police hate and bias crime unit is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information to contact their tip line at 613-236-1222, extension 5625. Article content 'The OPS treats incidents of this nature seriously and recognizes their profound impact on the community,' said Ottawa police in a statement. Article content 'We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents to report them to police. Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping cycles of hatred.' Article content
