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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-15, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 15, 2017 SeaforthCanada must rescind its torture protocol Huron Expositor n the face of it, it encourages other regimes opposition to torture is office he has said he would PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 sounded crystal to continue their terrible welcome. But it means lit- defer to the anti -torture P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street clear. "Canada will practices. tle if not reflected in policy. views of his defence secre- Seaforth Ontario NOK 1WO , never use torture or be The order creates an incen- As Sukanya Pillay, execu- tary, James Mattis. But that phone: 519-527-0240 party to that," Defence tive for countries that engage tive director of the Cana- means the U.S. is potentially fax: 519-527-2858 Minister Harjit Sajjan said in torture to continue to do ; dian Civil Liberties Associ- only one adviser away from www.seaforthhuronexpositor after meeting his counter- so "to curry favour with the ation, rightly points out, embracing torture if Trump part this week in Canadian intelligence com- "Canada has to now take changes his mind and over - Washington. munity," wrote Robert Hol- care that we do not con- turns former president But the reality is Sajjan's mes, the former president of done or inadvertently col- Barack Obama's ban on the POSTMEDIA comments are as clear as the B.C. Civil Liberties lude with torture." practice. mud. That's because the Association. This is particularly All the more reason, then, minister would not That is unacceptable. And important at a moment for Canada to send a clear say what his commitment when the Liberals were in when the new U.S. admin- message to the U.S. — and never to be a "party" to tor- opposition they knew that. istration has expressed the world — that it will not ture might mean in Then, they urged the Con- openness to revisiting its accept information obtained NEIL CLIFFORD practice. servative government to ban on so-called enhanced through torture. Advertising Director Some might argue we issue a "clear ministerial interrogation techniques. Any policy that condones nciifford@postmedia.com already are. Under a formal directive" against swapping President Donald Trump torture, or worse, creates a policy put forward by the information with torturing has been clear that he sup- market for it and thereby Harper government in 2012, regimes. But more than a ports the use of torture and contributes to its use, is a Canada can use informa- year into the Liberal gov- firmly believes that it betrayal of our values and SHAUN GREGORY tion obtained through tor- ernment's mandate, Public works, though most mili- our obligations as a signa- Multimedia Journalist ture in "exceptional circum- Safety Minister Ralph tary and security experts tory of the UN Convention sgregory@postmedia.com stances" involving an Goodale has so far refused suggest that it doesn't. He Against Torture. Sajjan is "immediate" threat. That to rescind the directive, vowed on the campaign right to unequivocally con - means that if another coun- even while admitting it trail to bring back not only demn torture and complic- try passes on tips it raises a "troubling set of the torture tactic of water- ity in it. But to do so in obtained through torture, issues." boarding, but "a hell of a lot words is not enough. His NANCYDEGANS Canada can act on them - a Troubling, indeed. Saj- worse." government should now Media Sales Consultant directive that some believe jan's stated categorical It's true that since taking act accordingly. ndegans@postmedia.com You must ha strong shield fjournalism SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 6o WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELNERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. mediacoundi.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the !financial support of the Government of Canada. (Iana(ia Iis a rock solid feeling when the friction of my fingers rubs across my arm, not by choice, but more because it's a requisite in my field. The skin of a human being's exterior is their largest organ, and while working in the media it follows an equivalent anatomy- it supports survival in the public's eye, this is where you truly must have the thickest of skin to be employed as a journalist. If you don't, the Facebook and Twitter keyboard warri- ors who thrive on negativity and Internet warfare will eat you up and spit you out. Those layers of structure can- not be in any way shape or form, brittle. The skinners, I call them, they search far and Column Shaun Gregory wide while spending numer- ous hours online looking for an individual's pelt. The attacks can come in a wide array of sarcastic phrases or comments, which are sadly sometimes in a form of bullying or even worse as verbal assaults. As the Net has gradually morphed into a more social outlet, these commenters have evolved and the numbers always follow, "all publicity is expanded - the Urban Diction- good publicity." ary refers to them as trolls. However the younger breed The younger groups of peo- of kids do not look at it like ple ranging in age from 15-29 that, they are being knocked are found to be the most at down and unfortunatelythey risk according to the Govern- are not journalists with the ment of Canada. They call it capabilities of dealing with Cyberbullying. such setbacks. It hurts their Seeing as-rk-n the local pride and potentially could reporter I've had my share of emotionally break them. it come my way as quite likely So for all you bullies out most people dealing with the there, call us public servants all public have as well. the names you want, but leave When 1 first started jour- the rest of the world out of this. nalism school it kind of This is Shaun Gregory AKA bugged me, then my teacher the guy who is hoping we as explained the logistics Internet users can keep a behind social media criti- close eye on Cyberbullies cism and it made me totally and educate them on how shift my frustration to posi- this affects the people they fives. Hey, at least they're are doing this to, signing out reading my stuff. from my small hamlet on a I remember the quote to cold Sunday afternoon. 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