Israeli officials confirm the release of US hostages
Israeli officials have confirmed to the BBC that two American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan have been released by Hamas.
The mother and daughter were taken hostage by Hamas at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, on 7 October.
Families welcome hostages’ release
A group supporting families of some of the hostages being held in Gaza has welcomed the apparent release of two hostages by Hamas.
We do not know yet if the families are reacting to the reports or have been told anything.
Describing Hamas’s actions as war crimes, Hostages Families HQ called on leaders in Arab countries to use their influence on Hamas leaders to immediately release all the kidnapped and missing persons held in Gaza.
The group urged world leaders and the international community to also use their “full power” to work for the release of all the hostages and missing persons.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate the joy of coming together with loved ones, savoring a hearty meal, and expressing gratitude for life’s blessings. However, in recent years, the rising costs of living have made celebrating this cherished holiday increasingly challenging. From high-interest rates to soaring rents, expensive food, and fuel costs that seem to never stop climbing, it can be daunting to maintain the tradition of a Thanksgiving feast. Yet, it’s precisely in these challenging times that the spirit of Thanksgiving can shine brightest. In this post, we’ll explore how some families and communities have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving despite these financial hurdles.
For many, high-interest rates on loans and credit cards have become a significant financial burden. However, some people have found creative ways to manage their debts. Thanksgiving can be an opportunity to sit down with family and friends to discuss financial strategies and share advice on budgeting, saving, and investing. By opening up about financial challenges and supporting each other, families can foster a sense of unity that goes beyond monetary concerns.
Rising rents in many urban areas have forced some families to downsize or move further from their jobs and loved ones. While this can be disheartening, it has also led to a resurgence of communal living arrangements. Friends and family members are pooling resources, sharing homes, and splitting rent to maintain their connections. This Thanksgiving, these close-knit communities can gather for a potluck-style meal, where everyone contributes a dish, turning a potentially isolating situation into a heartwarming celebration of togetherness.
The cost of groceries has risen steadily over the years, making the Thanksgiving feast a more expensive endeavor. To mitigate this, many people are getting creative in the kitchen, searching for budget-friendly recipes, and embracing sustainable cooking practices. Farmers’ markets and local produce cooperatives have also gained popularity, offering fresher and more affordable ingredients. By supporting local food systems, families can not only save money but also help their communities thrive.
High fuel costs can make holiday travel feel like an extravagant luxury. To address this, some families are choosing to celebrate Thanksgiving closer to home, emphasizing the value of spending quality time with local friends and family members. Virtual gatherings, while not the same as in-person celebrations, have also become a way to bridge the distance and ensure that loved ones remain an integral part of the holiday festivities.
While high-interest rates, rents, food costs, and fuel prices may present formidable challenges, the spirit of Thanksgiving endures. Families and communities across the country are finding innovative ways to adapt and celebrate this beloved holiday. By coming together to share financial wisdom, support each other through tough times, and explore creative solutions, we can keep the true essence of Thanksgiving alive – gratitude for what we have and the love and connection we share. In the face of adversity, the holiday serves as a reminder that the power of unity and resilience can overcome even the highest of costs.
RCMP, other employers exploiting human rights ‘loophole’ to stall complaints, lawyer claims
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CHRC waived requirement for military members earlier this year
An employment and human rights lawyer says the RCMP and other federally regulated workplaces are exploiting a loophole in human rights law. (Nic Amaya/CBC)
An employment and human rights lawyer says organizations like the RCMP are exploiting a “loophole” to prevent employees in federally regulated workplaces from taking their cases directly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The Canadian Human Rights Act allows the commission to deny complaints if the complainant “failed to exhaust” the review process that was reasonably available to them.
“At this point it’s a loophole that’s getting abused by organizations to indefinitely stall people’s right to access justice and hold them accountable for their breach of human rights,” said lawyer Kathryn Marshall.
“It’s totally unfair that people can’t access our court system or human rights court system because of this … I think that provision needs to be struck entirely.”
The federal government has been willing to make changes, but only for members of the military.
Earlier this summer, the Department of National Defence (DND) announced that members of the Canadian Armed Forces now have the option of taking their grievances directly to the civilian Canadian Human Rights Commission, even if they haven’t exhausted the military’s internal grievance and harassment mechanism.
Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour releases her report on sexual misconduct in the military on May 30, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The change came about in response to a recommendation from former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who was tasked with reviewing the culture within the Canadian Armed Forces following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against senior officers.
Marshall pointed out that the RCMP has been called out over a toxic workplace culture and has had to pay out millions of dollars to Mounties who experienced sexual assault and harassment on the job. A 2020 independent report investigating harassment in the RCMP concluded that change cannot come from within the institution and must be initiated from the outside.
Marshall said she wants to see the Canadian Human Rights Act amended to allow complainants to bring their complaints forward to the commission if their employers have failed to address them “within a reasonable period of time.”
Otherwise, she said, “the complainant gets locked into this never-ending, years-long process and nothing ever happens. And the problems get swept under the rug.
“I call it no man’s land.”
Client’s grievance took years to be settled
One of Marshall’s clients, Lindsay Carter, said she worked in the RCMP’s forensic lab for 20 years. She said her battle with the force’s internal systems left her feeling distressed and alone.
“The process seems to be broken and not genuine, despite assertions otherwise,” Carter said.
“The institutional betrayal there is just huge.”
In 2019, she said, she suspected a colleague in the lab had lied during training and was dishonest, and reported her suspicions to her superiors.
“That honesty and integrity piece is very, very foundational, especially when you’re training someone to take the witness stand,” Carter said.
Carter said that when she took those concerns up the chain of command, they were dismissed initially because she had previously taken a medical leave.
“I was called unwell. I was called not right. And she referred to my medical history,” she said.
She said she was told by her manager to drop the matter but instead took it to a professional standards officer.
In December 2019, she said, the colleague she complained about charged after her in the workplace and screamed at her.
“I thought I was going to be physically assaulted at that point,” she said.
Internal documents show her colleague made allegations of his own, claiming Carter was obsessed with him and was amassing a file on him.
The matter has been tied up since January of 2020, she said.
“They’ve shunted me off into this grievance process,” Carter said. “There’s no end to end in sight to that.”
RCMP won’t comment on possible changes
CBC reached out to her colleague for his side of the story, who forwarded the request to RCMP communications.
It said it can’t comment on individual cases and did not respond to CBC’s questions regarding the process.
A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc was non-committal when asked if the department would follow DND’s lead and allow RCMP employees to take their cases directly to the commission.
A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc wouldn’t say whether the government will allow RCMP members to take their grievances directly to the commission. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
“We will work to ensure that every member of the RCMP feels safe and respected,” said Jean-Sebastien Comeau.
He also pointed to the Independent Centre for Harassment Resolution (ICHR), which was set up by the Liberal government to handle harassment investigations involving the RCMP.
Carter, who has since left the RCMP, said the new program doesn’t adequately address her concerns
“It’s only preventative for next time. There’s no personal accountability or like, ‘Hey, we’re going to take this person out of this workplace so you can go to work,'” she said.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Arif Virani said the special process for CAF members was set up through joint planning by National Defence and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
“As such, it would be up to the individual sectors, such as the RCMP, if they would consider such direction,” said Chantalle Aubertin.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission said it has decided not to deal with 37 complaints it has received over the past two years because the complainants failed to exhaust their employers’ internal grievance processes first.
Commission spokesperson Véronique Robitaille said the number is low because the commission tries to explain the act to complainants first.
Robitaille said the CHRC considers each case on an individual basis.
Carter said she’s hoping to get her matter “out from under the RCMP bell jar.”
“For me … it’s reclaiming my voice,” she said. “I don’t trust the organization to deal with the issues.”
Israeli officials confirm the release of US hostages
Israeli officials have confirmed to the BBC that two American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan have been released by Hamas.
The mother and daughter were taken hostage by Hamas at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, on 7 October.