Category Archives: News

CBC Blocks Human Rights Hearing

The CBC has filed a court application in the PEI Supreme Court to stop a Human Rights Panel hearing into a complaint of disability discrimination against a local journalist with a disability

CBC fights to block Human Rights panel

PEI Disability Alert PRLog – The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a publicly funded broadcaster, has filed a court application in the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island to stop a Human Rights Panel hearing into a complaint of disability discrimination against a local journalist living with a disability.

Stephen Pate, an internet journalist, filed a complaint against CBC News producer Donna Allen and other members of the Press Gallery of the PEI Legislature after they took away his press pass in October 2009.

Pate says the CBC wanted him out of the press gallery due to their bias against people with disabilities. NJN Network has been a vocal critic of CBC’s media bias. Continue reading →

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PEI Battle Ground for New Media and Journalist with a Disability

A raging human rights battle is being waged on PEI in an ongoing battle for legitimacy between old and new media, as well as accessibility issues for the press

Wayne Thibodeau, Guardian no room in the inn for journalists in wheelchairs (Facebook photo)

By Chris Benjamin, OyeTimes – A raging human rights battle on PEI that highlights an ongoing battle for legitimacy between old and new media, as well as accessibility issues for the press, has garnered surprisingly little media attention.

It began in the fall of 2009, when the explosion of news blogging was a mere gathering of volatile gasses. After unanimously voting controversial news blogger Stephen Pate their secretary/treasurer, members of the Island’s press gallery booted him from their ranks. They claimed the issue was spurious content; Pate says it was his association with a disability advocate group—a violation of human rights law. Continue reading →

Things I Love About PEI – The Canton Cafe

A Canadian Chinese restaurant dishes out great food and friendly atmosphere in downtown Charlottetown

Helen Tran, the Canton Cafe, a wide smile and she remembers your voice (S. Pate photo)

You won’t find posh seats or fancy wallpaper but inside the Canton Cafe is some of the best Chinese food on PEI served up by fantastic people who remember your voice.

Since 1967 the Canton Cafe has been the goto place for a mid-day, supper or late night dish of great Chinese food. They stay open until 2 AM and the late night traffic is busy.

The staff is always a treat to know, especially Helen Tran who has worked there for 25 years. Helen is the friendly face you meet and the friendly voice on the phone for take out orders. It’s real hospitality PEI style. Continue reading →

PEI’s hysterical pain-killer epidemic

The past two weeks has seen the PEI Health Minister clutching at the pain-killer abuse story with the local media parroting his words

Substance abuse on PEI – alcohol tops the list with marijuana 2nd and all other illicit drugs a distant 3rd

According to PEI’s Minister of Health and the local media, Prince Edward Island has a “painkiller epidemic“ but it just ain’t so.

We do know is that if the Province makes it harder to get prescription pain killers PEI’s 25,000 persons living with disabilities will suffer. Pain is the one of the most significant problems for the disabled. Continue reading →

Health Minister and Deputy disagree on PEI’s new war on pain killers

Health PEI is starting a smoke screen war on narcotics to divert public attention from closing rural hospitals – the Minister and his Deputy tell two different stories

Health Minister Doug Currie and Deputy Dr. Michael Mayne – two versions of “War on Pain Killers” – a smokescreen?

The announced get-tough stance on prescription of pain killers appears to be a smoke screen to divert attention from hospital closings. It is a phony shadow war at best.

Health Canada reports pain-killer use is dropping across Canada. PEI is on par with the national average.

Where is this “dramatic increase” reported by the Minister, CBC and the Charlottetown Guardian? Continue reading →

PEI Narcotics Regulations Attack Disabled and Dying

Prince Edward Island’s plans to further restrict legal prescriptions of pain killers will harm the long-term disabled and terminally ill.

PEI Health Minister Doug Currie promoting new regulations that will harm people with disabilities

The new legislation will limit legal prescriptions for those suffering chronic pain in the terminal stages of life.

Using data from PEI’s maligned health information system, PEI’s Minister of Health plans to limit pain medication for PEI’s 25,000 disabled.

Narcotic pain killers are already highly regulated in Canada and access for people with chronic pain and disabilities can be difficult. New regulations are a likely a smokescreen of other changes in the PEI healthcare system. Continue reading →

Ground Zero at the 2013 Boston Marathon Explosion

An amateur photographer captures ground zero pictures of the explosion in the crowd at the 2013 Boston Marathon

Warning - these photographs contain graphic detail of the explosion, ground zero and people injured at the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon explosion. They may not be suitable for all.

DSC3132 crop 900 Ground Zero at the 2013 Boston Marathon Explosion photo

Crowd at the Boston Marathon finish line seconds after the blast (photo Aaron Tang, Creative Commons license some rights restricted)

Photo galleries of the moments before, during and after the explosion at the Boston Marathon follow to break.
Continue reading →