Tory justice critic wants RNC to 'justify' changes to Stella support dog program
CBC
The Opposition justice critic says the public deserves to know why Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial police force has decided to change the way it offers its therapy dog program.
"I don't understand the reasoning and the rationale behind that," said Helen Conway Ottenheimer on Monday.
"And I think there's a responsibility on the part of the RNC leadership to justify the decision to really demote Stella in terms of the public and the community outreach."
The Tory MHA for Harbour Main was reacting to a CBC Investigates story that revealed the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's support dog and its handler, Const. Krista Fagan, have been sidelined since last summer.
The RNC has denied dozens of community requests for Stella and Fagan, documents show, with the duo instructed only to do employee wellness work.
Weekly meetings with the Department of Justice's victim services division were halted by the RNC around the same time.
In a statement Friday, Chief Patrick Roche said the "Stella initiative is still active and is currently focusing on providing internal supports for our membership."
The chief's statement said, "The primary role of the [police service dog] Stella program is to provide support services within the RNC and the justice system, including within provincial courts and victims services."
Roche's statement did not address the decision to halt Stella's interactions with victim services. He has turned down repeated requests for interviews.
The RNC did not respond to a followup inquiry Friday specifically about victim services.
Myra James, a retired sergeant with the Hamilton Police Service, said she's disappointed by the news and hopes the RNC will reconsider its position.
"You can't put a value on her being an ambassador, whether she's a dog or not. But she was out there," said James on Monday.
"She brings smiles to the faces of senior citizens and victims of crime and employees and so on and so forth. So I would hope that the RNC revisit this, reinstate her position as far as community outreach is concerned."
James, who is a member of the International Association of Women Police, became interested in the support dog program after hearing about it from RNC officers.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.