Story of the Week
CTV News – The Court of Appeal for Ontario passed a ruling allowing individuals who are being accused of sexual assault and other violent crimes the possible defence of intoxication. NDP MPP Jill Andrew has created an online petition to support the NDP’s appeal against this new ruling. The petition has 168,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon. The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund said the decision could be sending the wrong message.
International
Global News – Following the death of George Floyd, protests have spread internationally to speak out about racial inequality. In Bristol, England, the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th-century slave trader, was torn down and thrown into the Avon River during a Black Lives Matter protest. Approximately 10,000 people attended the protest. The controversial statue has received a lot of attention in recent years. The last petition for its removal had 11,000 signatures.
Local Story
CBC – The Ottawa Sens Foundation is no longer affiliated with Capital Sports & Entertainment after July 31. This means the Ottawa Sens Foundation can no longer use the trademark name and logos. Capital Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Senators hockey team, offered the Ottawa Sens Foundation an agreement which would require it to “open a fair and transparent request for proposals [RFP] process.” The Ottawa Sens Foundation chose to decline the agreement and did not disclose why.
Human Interest
Ottawa Matters – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Operation Come Home’s usual fundraising program called BottleWorks has had to adapt. BottleWorks raised more than $95,000 in empties last year which goes towards helping Ottawa’s at-risk and homeless youth to get the services and care they need. With two-thirds of the normal donors gone, the organization has now started the “Putting Your Empties to Work” drive. They are asking Ottawa residents to put aside their empties and call for a pick-up appointment.