The big news: The Supreme Court talks democracy
The story
When Rob Ford was stymieing his colleagues on Toronto’s city council, the Supreme Court continued to hear arguments about Senate reform from a number of provinces, advocates and even senators themselves. Ford’s battles swept the nation’s front pages, but the Supremes and counsel gathered in the top court argued about some of the most fundamental elements of Canada’s constitution. There’s no scandal to be found, but the debates are worth our attention.
The stat
7/50: the federal government argues that abolition of the Senate would only require the consent of two-thirds of the provinces (7) representing half of Canada’s population (50%)—an amending procedure known as the 7/50 Rule.
The quote
“So Canada could be turned into a dictatorship with less than unanimity?” —Justice Louis LeBel, in response to arguments made by Saskatchewan government lawyer Graeme Mitchell
What’s above the fold
| The Globe and Mail | Ex-staffers accused Rob Ford of, among other things, drinking and driving. |
| National Post | Among the other Ford allegations: cocaine and OxyContin. |
| Toronto Star | Also among the allegations: a sex worker inside city hall. |
| Ottawa Citizen | A former Tory operative allegedly bragged about misleading voters. |
| CBC News | Ford, once again, won’t step down from his post. |
| CTV News | POLL: 62 per cent of Torontonians wouldn’t vote Ford in 2014. |
| National Newswatch | Ford’s latest bombshells heap yet more pressure onto the mayor. |
What you might have missed
| THE NATIONAL | Heroin. Five plaintiffs will take on the federal government’s recent move to designate diacetylmorphine—the chemical name for heroin—a restricted substance. The plaintiffs are advocates for a trial program that administers controlled amounts of heroin to chronic users. |
| THE GLOBAL | Iraq. Twenty-seven people died in nine attacks. The bombings largely targeted Shiites, some of whom were observing Ashura, an important religious day of mourning. An attack in Baquba killed nine and wounded 35. Among the casualties: Adnan Hussein, the mayor of Falluja, who was assassinated. |