Fuzzy communication

When Montreal's fuzz launched itself with two feet into the community policing movement six years ago, veteran city councillor Marvin Rotrand wondered aloud how well thought-out the plan was. With full-furrowed brow, he suggested that citizens were ill-informed and poorly consulted, police inadequately prepared and that small community stations that close at night would just confuse people.

Rotrand was apparently not just whistling in the woods - his worries have proven grounded as the city ponders a plan to close 10 of its 49 stations and to ditch much of the community policing philosophy. Peter Yeomans, the city executive committee member in charge of public security, is expected to come out with a report proposing a major overhaul of the force within a few weeks, but Rotrand isn't thrilled with his Tremblay-team colleague's failure to consult the island-folk.

"I'm surprised the public hasn't been invited to make suggestions yet," says Rotrand. "I think the public would be extremely valuable to consult before any master plan about changing community policing is put on the table."

Rotrand favours increased foot patrols, more schmoozing with youth and minorities and he wants a larger force - noting that the squad employed 300 more officers in 1997 than today. Yeomans plans to wait and hear the vox populi only after the report is written, an approach Rotrand views as ironic. "Community policing implies enhanced dialogue with the public, so there's an inherent paradox of conducting this reform behind closed doors." : » Kristian Gravenor

Taking Issue at McGill

Unsatisfied, as many of us are, with the media's coverage of major world events, a couple of students from the McGill law school have decided to put together their own political journal: The Issue.

The publication's main objective is "to feature competing perspectives on controversial issues," says managing editor Erika Sasson. Feeling that, more often than not, we get slanted stories where no voice is accountable, Sasson says The Issue seeks to explore events from various angles allowing readers to make their own informed opinions.

The first copy, published in January, included articles by leftie faves Naomi Klein (on Argentina and the IMF) and Noam Chomsky, but it also featured pro-war and anti-Kyoto opinion pieces. Sasson specifically points out that the goal is not simply to pit left against right, but to present at least three perspectives on each of the four topics selected per copy.

The editors of The Issue will be accepting submissions until March 17. To find out where to get a copy or about writing for them, email theissue@heybro.com. : » Alexandra Spunt

FTAA's green non-consensus

How do you bridge the gaping chasm between anti-globalization demonstrators and government and industry when it comes to free trade? Members of the student association Environmental Law McGill hope the international conference they're hosting March 17–18 will be a step in the right direction.

Titled "Greening the FTAA? Towards the Protection of Ecological Integrity in the Americas," the event will bring together students, government policymakers, academics, private sector representatives, law practitioners and non-governmental organizations from across the western hemisphere.

"We felt there had to be some kind of dialogue and debate fostered on this issue," says conference director William Amos. "We're trying to redefine what we think meaningful consultation ought to be: not just government asking us what we think and then ignoring us, but us creating an environment where people feel comfortable hearing all perspectives."

Panel discussions will focus on issues such as the health and environmental impacts of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, public participation and transparency during FTAA negotiations and what environmental sustainability means in the context of trade. Among the high-profile speakers are chief negotiators from Chile and Costa Rica, Canada's Environment Minister David Anderson and NDP leader Jack Layton.

Amos doesn't expect the conference to lead to any consensus or recommendations. However, the Canadian government has asked him to produce a report on the event, which it will present to the Organization of American States.

The conference is open to the public. For more information, visit www.law.mcgill.ca/elmftaaconference/. : » Eve Krakow

Angel >> One last (?) pre-war peace march When the U.S. declared March 17 to be the absolute last deadline Iraq would be given before bombs start falling over Baghdad, anti-war groups mobilized for what may be the last chance to take to the streets to protest against military action. Local anti-war leaders Échec à la guerre will be taking the reins and getting people out for a march this Saturday, March 15 at 1 p.m. The march will have two contingents: one will gather in front of the Radio-Canada building on René-Lévesque E., the other at René-Lévesque W. and Crescent. Similar demonstrations are planned for the same day across the globe.
Insect >> Law & order e-vesdropping Privacy and civil rights advocates are taking serious issue with new federal legislation aimed at fighting cyber-crime, including money laundering and child pornography. The law will allow officials to eavesdrop on personal e-mails and cell phone conversations, and will require Internet providers to store client data that may be turned over to authorities, which can be shared with intelligence organizations abroad. If ratified, the law will bring Canada into compliance with the yet-to-be ratified 2001 Convention on Cyber-Crime. Its critics say that Canada already has the legal framework to combat cyber-crimes.