In newly disclosed documents, federal researchers find that cannabis may have medical uses and is less likely to cause harm than drugs like heroin.
He was one of several officers who had their police disciplinary cases deferred this week until they've gone through the criminal system.
A Toronto Police officer is accused of carrying on a secret, longtime affair with a sex trafficking victim he met on the beat – a relationship that allegedly included a booty call at a motel and sexually explicit photos sent on his police-issued phone.
Const. Michael Harris made his first appearance this week before the Toronto Police disciplinary tribunal where he faces five charges under the Police Services Act. But he was told his case would have to be postponed until his criminal charges are resolved first.
And his wasn’t the only one.
At the tribunal this week, case after case had to be marked “sine die” – legalese for adjourned without a new date – due to an ongoing criminal case involving each officer. It wasn’t a good look for Toronto’s finest.
In September, Harris, 37, was criminally charged with breach of trust for an “inappropriate” relationship but no further details were released. Now with his Police Services Act charges, we’ve learned more about his alleged 20-month clandestine relationship with a “vulnerable” woman identified as A.B.
According to the notice of hearing, the 31 Division officer was working with a partner when they allegedly first met the sex worker who was addicted to drugs thanks to her pimp. After building a rapport with A.B., Harris helped her in August 2021 to come forward with information about her pimp and he arranged an introduction to investigators with the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team.
“You were aware of her personal circumstances and resulting vulnerability; despite that, you became involved in a personal relationship with her that spanned from September 2021 to May 2023,” the notice alleges.
“You sent A.B. sexually explicit images of yourself on multiple occasions. On occasion, A.B. sent intimate images of herself to you.”
On May 16, 2023, police allege Harris finished his shift at 7 p.m. and contacted A.B. to see her.
“A.B. was at a motel room in Vaughan and you sent her an e-transfer for $25 from your personal bank account so she could extend her room stay. You met A.B. at the motel and engaged in a sexual act with her; you left shortly thereafter.”
The allegations contend Harris met with A.B. for official police business during this lengthy period but didn’t disclose his relationship to the other officers present or inform his supervisor of the apparent conflict of interest.
“Furthermore, you told A.B. not to say anything to anyone about your relationship,” the notice alleges.
She also wasn’t the only one he was sexting on his company phone, police allege.
According to the notice of hearing, an examination of Harris’s phone seized during the investigation revealed a series of sexually explicit images sent to others – including photos and a video to “C.D.” via WhatsApp in April 2023 and another sexually explicit photo to “E.F.” in June 2023.
None of the allegations have been proven.
Also before the tribunal was Andrew Davis, who was charged by the SIU in September with aggravated assault and one count of discharging a firearm with intent to maim, wound, disfigure or endanger life after a man holding a knife was shot twice.
Davis also faces Police Services Act charges stemming from the incident for allegedly failing to use de-escalation techniques in February 2023 when a man began engaging in self harm “at which point you discharged two rounds from your service pistol. Both rounds struck D.F.,” the notice says.
“At the time of discharging your firearm there was no risk of bodily harm or death to any member of the public other than D.F. Your use of force was also contrary to Service Governance.”
Also seeing their tribunal case deferred until the criminal process is completed was Const. Andrew Corkill, who faces criminal charges of fraud and breach of trust for over-billing paid duty customers, Const. Stephen Adjei-Bediako who’s been charged with over 80 and Const. Robert Konashewych who was convicted last year of defrauding a vulnerable man’s estate of $831,000.
In the meantime, all of the officers remain suspended with pay, except for Konashewych who is currently suspended without pay and out bail appealing his criminal conviction.
The Ivy league is tolerating and enabling anti-semitism against Jewish students, a complaint alleges.
Harvard University has been sued by Jewish students alleging it "has become a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment".
The complaint alleges the Ivy League school is violating the civil rights of its Jewish students by tolerating and enabling discrimination on its campus.
It comes just over a week after its president, Claudine Gay, resigned in part over her handling of antisemitism.
Harvard has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
The complaint, filed on Wednesday night, argues that Jewish students have been "subjected to a severe and pervasive antisemitic hostile educational environment" that have worsened since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel.
It claims that Harvard students and faculty members have harassed, intimidated and assaulted Jewish students in classrooms, in on-campus activities and on social media, including by calling for the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel.
"What is most striking about all of this is Harvard's abject failure and refusal to lift a finger to stop and deter this outrageous antisemitic conduct and penalize the students and faculty who perpetrate it," the complaint states.
The claimants - a student at Harvard Divinity School and a group called Students Against Antisemitism, which include students at Harvard's law and public health schools - allege that antisemitism on campus "manifests itself in a double standard".
Harvard, they say, "selectively enforces its policies to avoid protecting Jewish students from harassment, hires professors who support anti-Jewish violence and spread antisemitic propaganda, and ignores Jewish students' pleas for protection", while disciplining those who engage in racism, transphobia and other forms of discrimination.
The complaint seeks monetary damages and an injunction to stop Harvard's alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars those who receive federal funds from allowing discrimination based on race.
The court filing was made by the Kasowitz Benson Torres law firm, which has launched similar lawsuits at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Harvard has been under fire in the months since the Hamas attack, with the US education department and the House of Representatives both opening investigations into its handling of antisemitism on campus.
Last week, Claudine Gay - the university's first black president - resigned following criticisms of her response to anti-semitism on campus, and allegations that she plagiarised parts of her academic work. She faced a firestorm of criticism over her December testimony before Congress, in which she failed to explicitly say that calls for the genocide of Jews violated university policy.
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The judge said Giuliani did not specify why he needs more time than the four months already allotted, and he said Giuliani’s attorneys were misleading in a recent filing.
MONTREAL — The majority of the 23 people aboard a bus involved in a deadly crash in Upstate New York on Friday were Canadian citizens, officials in the state have confirmed.
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Canadian film credit wins again. eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
