It was a memorable day for Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, when Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor of York University, was conferred with an honorary doctoral degree in science for his exceptional vision, deep commitment to research, propagation of scientific inquiry and continuous exemplary efforts in innovating and improving technology. Both universities also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster and strengthen the mutual relationship and facilitate the exchange of teaching and research expertise leading to the benefit of human resources in India and Canada, reported the Toronto Telegraph Nov. 11. Read full story.
Sex crime reporting up 30 per cent since Dec. 16, 2012
The reporting of sex crimes has increased nearly 30 percent since Delhi’s Dec. 16, 2012 gang-rape case, said Daniel Drache, professor of political science at Canada’s York University, in a lecture Monday. Speaking at a lecture titled "Sex crimes reporting in the Indian Press", organized by Jamia Millia Islamia, Drache compared reporting of such crimes before and after the Dec. 16 incident. Drache, who is also associate director of the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, said the main problem India is facing is violence against women. He said the mass media could change the conscience of people, reported the New Indian Express Nov. 11. Read full story.
The ‘scandalization’ of Canadian politics: The hard truths of neoliberal conservatism
“We are gripped by scandal,” wrote York University environmental studies Professor Stefan Kipfer in Global Research Nov. 11. “In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is implicated in a top-level cover up of illegal expense claims by one his own foot soldiers: now-suspended Senator Mike Duffy. In Toronto, police surveillance data reveal that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Alessandro Lisi (his ‘occasional driver and friend’) move effortlessly between drug deals, football fields and the mayor’s office. Lurid pictures abound: Senator Duffy clutching his bags full of bombshells, Harper looking blindsided in the House, mysterious envelopes being passed between Ford and Lisi in the woodlots and gas stations of Etobicoke. Disturbing times. Entertaining times. For many of us, also hopeful times. Who has not dared to dream that crack and runaway expense claims will bring the HarperFord era to an end?” Read full story.
Canada ratifies international arbitration treaty
After considerable foot-dragging, Canada ratified the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Convention on Nov. 1 as it joined the ranks of other G8 nations with full membership. . . . Ratifying the convention will boost Canada’s appeal among foreign investors who are comfortable and familiar with international arbitration clauses. . . . The idea of giving arbitrators full authority to make calls without an opportunity for a review by local courts doesn’t sit well with everyone, however. “Under the ICSID Convention, investor-state arbitration awards are not subject to any review in any court, domestic or international; thus, one has a situation where for-profit arbitrators are supervised by other for-profit arbitrators, all appointed by the World Bank president,” said Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Gus Van Harten in Law Times Nov. 11. Read full story.