UN removes 'sexual orientation' from execution proscription

My second piece up today on Xtra.ca is a reaction piece from Canadian MPs on this particular UN vote. It's pretty straight forward, but I will mention that Bob Rae has been really on the ball on this particular issue for a while now, and we've had a couple of conversations on the topic in the past couple of weeks, and if we have another, I may end up being forced into reading his new book.

Why does mainstream media cover Charles McVety?

The first of my two stories up on Xtra.ca today, I have an analysis piece of some of the coverage in the mainstream media about Bill C-389, or more precisely, why it is that evangelist Charles McVety can get coverage for an issue when the issue itself won't rate a mention. It was a pretty frustrating piece to write, considering that I couldn't get any assignment editors to talk to me (and some of them, as seen in the piece, were actually pretty rude about it), but I managed to come up with an angle that worked, and already I've had plenty of great feedback, so I'm I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Another Solution For AIDS Drugs? + Thoughts From the Hill - November Edition

The November issue of Outlooks is now out, and I have two pieces therein. The first is a slightly different take on the CAMR issue, looking at some of the alternative plans that two Liberal MPs are proposing instead of Bill C-391, while I still get someone to challenge that point of view. It was also my chance to have a sit-down conversation with Glen Pearson, who is a gem of an MP. The panel, meanwhile, was an issue that I've covered a fair bit for Xtra, but it was nice to get a somewhat different take from a different cast of characters than I would for an Xtra story.

The CAMR piece is on pages 18 and 19, and the panel is on page 22.

Human smuggling bill no help to queer refugees

I have a new piece up today on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which is about the government's bill which purports to deal with human smuggling (but in fact does not). This builds a lot on the reporting I did over the past year on the previous refugee bill (Bill C-11 for those of you keeping score), and I'm a little embarrassed that I wasn't on this story sooner. But I did get some unique perspectives on the issue, and the stakeholders were very happy to talk about it.

Ignatieff distances Liberals from legalizing sex work + Garneau guts AIDS bill + Trans bill passes another hurdle

I have three reprinted stories in the current print edition of Xtra Ottawa - the story about Michael Ignatieff's comments around the Ontario Superior Court decision on sex work, a brief version of the first story about C-393 being gutted in committee, and the majority of my story on Bill C-389 passing the justice committee.

New McCarthyism ahead, warns Independent Jewish Voices

I have a new story up on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which was pretty difficult to write. Aside from there being tonnes of material, between three press events and another interview, plus the video in the piece, it was difficult weeding through to get to the heart of the story - the issue of free speech - without getting bogged down in what sounds like conspiracy theories or the aforementioned charges of anti-Semitism. Not an easy line to tread. In the end, however, the piece got filed, my editor was happy, and it seems to have worked out.

Scott Brison on his time in public works

I have a nice Friday story on the national page of Xtra.ca, where I talk to Scott Brison about his time as Public Works minister. Why? Given the continual stream of revelations about possible malfeasance in the Public Works department under the previous two Conservative ministers, I figured why not talk to someone who had the job and is familiar with the challenges, and see what lessons can be drawn. And because Brison was Canada's first openly gay cabinet minister during his time at Public Works, it made for a great interest piece for Xtra as well. Plus, I took the photo on my new iPhone 4, and it turned out quite well.

Queer Ugandans ask Parliament for refugee assistance

I have a new piece up on the main page of Xtra.ca, which was the second story I wrote yesterday. It was pretty last-minute, where I almost missed that this group was testifying before the Commons International Human Rights subcommittee, but I'm glad I was able to make it and hear what they had to say, because this is something that is certainly not seeing play in the mainstream media.

NDP tabling suicide prevention bill

I have a new story on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which was a bit of a surprise for me. I had intended to simply go to this press conference as a quick hit for the blog, but during the press conference, things came up that meant that this could turn into a full-fledged story.

I also made a point of asking about where this bill is going to lie on the Order of Precedence, which is a bit of a sticking point with me. I see all kinds of Private Members' Bills tabled constantly with great fanfare that are never intended to go anywhere, so I'm making it a bit of a mission to point this out (and I have in some high-profile scrums a couple of times), so that perhaps We The Media will be more aware of this phenomenon. (For what it's worth, anyway).

Trans bill sails through committee

I have a new piece up on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which looks at the swift passage of Bill C-389 in the Commons justice committee. This bill, which I've been following all the way through, has had fairly swift progress to date - in fact, that's practically been the story. This was also one that I was updating on Twitter as developments happened, and they happened so fast that I was having a hard time juggling that, plus grabbing my interviews once the committee broke. But good fun nevertheless.

Garneau guts AIDS bill at Commons committee

I have a new piece up on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which is the next chapter in the saga of the various attempts to reform CAMR legislation that I've been following for a while now. I hadn't been expecting the drama that went down when I went to the committee hearing (it was for a clause-by-clause consideration after all, which can be dull and technical), but good thing I was there. And as with covering committees, they can be the best place to grab interviews because everyone you need to talk to is already in the room.

Update: I have reaction from Marc Garneau added to the piece as of Wednesday morning.