B-I-Trans Canada Highway

Offramp Detour Bonus Episode!

We end up taking a few detours and exploring offramps as we cruise along the B-I-Trans Canada Highway. We end up cutting a lot off the off-topic conversations from our main feed episodes, and compiling them into bonus content that can be found on our Patreon. Here's a little taster from the MMIWG episode for you. 

Ep 4 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry and Action

Episode Four Show Notes and Sources
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 
 Episode Description:
Karen and Alex discuss the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada that has been on the radar of indigenous communities for decades, but has only come to the national surface in recent years. We talk about the inquiry conducted by the Federal Government and the reaction from indigenous communities and organizations. 
 
Cases Discussed:
The Highway of Tears |
Shae-Lynn McAllister |
Cherish Oppenheim |
Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Ashlee Shingoose |
Loretta Saunders and Tina Fontaine 
 
How To Help:
Visit canadasmissing.ca to review the cases of missing women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. 
 
To submit a tip, please contact any of the following:
The investigating police agency included on the profile of the missing woman
Crime Stoppers by phone 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or online
The National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains by email at canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
 
Crisis support is available for anyone affected by these reports and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people through a national 24-hour hotline at 1-844-413-6649. 
 
Sources:
The Canadian Encyclopedia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-girls-in-canada
How we built a national action plan with partners https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1590950479157/1590950564663
Call for Justice 1.7 Final Report             https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1717103903695/1717103981609
No More Stolen Sisters Amnesty International https://amnesty.ca/what-we-do/no-more-stolen-sisters/
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Inquiry_into_Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women_and_Girls#:~:text=The%20National%20Inquiry%20into%20Missing,and%20Murdered%20Indigenous%20Women%20crisis.&text=The%20study%20included%20reviews%20of,as%20community%20hearings%20and%20testimonies
RCMP say MMIW Highway of Tears Cases may Never Be Solved                       https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-say-mmiw-highway-of-tears-missing-and-murdered-women-cases-may-never-be-solved-1.3805609
The RCMP Seeks Your Help in Solving Cases of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People https://rcmp.ca/en/campaigns-and-promotions/rcmp-seeks-your-help-solving-cases-missing-indigenous-women-girls-and
Convicted Killer Missing from Mission Institution Recaptured                   https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/convicted-killer-missing-from-mission-institution
Exclusive: Mother of Teen Victim Wasn't Told Murderer had Escaped https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/exclusive-mother-of-teen-victim-wasnt-told-murderer-had-escaped/
Convicted Killer Captured after Escape from Mission Prison         https://calgary.citynews.ca/2017/04/14/convicted-killer-escapes-prison-mission-2/
Kelowna Killer Recaptured after Escaping B.C. Prison on his Birthday              https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-killer-recaptured-after-escaping-b-c-prison-on-his-birthday-1.4071993
Escaped Murderer Recaptured https://www.merrittherald.com/escaped-murderer-recaptured/
The Murder of Loretta Saunders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Loretta_Saunders
In Loretta Saunders Murder, Family says Police at First Thought she was White, MMIWG Inquiry Hears https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/inquiry-ns-saunders-1.4378891
Family of Missing Indigenous Woman Hopeful New Billboard, Reward Could Provide Answers https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/missing-indigenous-woman-reward-1.7506043
Canadian Serial Killer's Victims found in Landfill https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlyz04q23qo
Family Information Liaison Units https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/cj-jp/fund-fond/mmiw-fada/info.html
Canada’s Missing  http://www.canadasmissing.ca
Winnipeg Serial Killings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Winnipeg_serial_killings
Diem Saunders  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diem_Saunders
Death of Tina Fontain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Tina_Fontaine
Forensic Document Review Project      https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/forensic-document-review-project/
Email suggestions for episode topics, or tell us about your experience with the Canadian Legal Justice System at bitranscanadahighway@gmail.com 

Ep 3 Drug Laws

Karen and Alex welcome special guest Brittany Stockley (advocate for mental health and addiction treatment, who has been in active recovery/sobriety for 9+ years) to discuss how the laws surrounding drugs and controlled substances have evolved over time, and how those laws affect Canadians. You can find her on her socials @heartwoodandhomestudio
Send your suggestions for future episode topics to:
bitranscanadahighway@gmail.com
Cases Discussed:
Rob Ford’s drug use while in Office: Ontario, 2014| Thomas Hartle’s Denial to Continue Psilocin Trial by Health Canada: Saskatchewan, 2021| Summerside Meth Lab: PEI, 2016 | Toronto Drug Cop Charged with Drug Crimes: Ontario, 2024 | Project Lowkey: Alberta, 2024 | Charged Laid for Noncontrolled Substance Possession: Alberta, 2022
We finish the episode with Brittany telling us about her own journey through addiction, sobriety and her experiences with the legal system.
 
Sources:
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38.8/page-9.html
The National Drug Schedules (NDS) https://www.napra.ca/national-drug-schedules/what-are-the-national-drug-schedules/
Understanding Schedule 1 Drugs in Canada https://karapancevlaw.ca/understanding-schedule-1-drugs-in-canada-a-comprehensive-guide/
Controlled substances and precursor chemicals           https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/controlled-substances-precursor-chemicals.html
About PPSC                              https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/bas/index.html?wbdisable=true#:~:text=The%20PPSC%20is%20responsible%20for,in%20Quebec%20and%20New%20Brunswick
US DEA https://www.dea.gov/
Cannabis Legalization and Regulation https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/cannabis/
Stats Canada https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231016/dq231016c-eng.htm
CBC  https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cannabis-5-year-1.6989993
Cannabis in Canada Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada
Legal History if Cannabis in Canada Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_Canada
Fentanyl smuggling is not a major crisis at Canada-US border, despite Trump's claims https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/02/11/fentanyl-smuggling-is-not-a-major-crisis-at-canada-us-border-despite-trump-s-claims_6738032_4.html#:~:text=Canada-,Fentanyl%20smuggling%20is%20not%20a%20major%20crisis%20at%20Canada%2DUS,major%20source%20of%20the%20drug
How fentanyl has poisoned relations between the US and Canada https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/negative-side-effects-how-fentanyl-has-poisoned-relations-between-the-us-and-canada/
The opioid crisis in Canada: a national perspective
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6034966/
Opioids in Canada https://www.cihi.ca/en/opioids-in-canada
Creation of Dashboard Tracking Province’s Overdose Deaths https://vocm.com/2025/03/31/officials-working-on-creation-of-dashboard-tracking-provinces-overdose-deaths/
Drugs found hidden in baby's diaper as meth lab uncovered in Summerside https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/updated-drugs-found-hidden-in-babys-diaper-as-meth-lab-uncovered-in-summerside-56979
Footage of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack released https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/11/rob-ford-crack-video-release
Rob Ford: I've used nearly all drugs, says Toronto mayor https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28138521
Addiction Success Stories w/guest, Brittany Stockley https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/videos/addiction-success-stories-wguest-brittany-stockley/5105231862908717/
Legal Weed Pardons https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pot-pardons-still-low-484-1.6230666#:~:text=It's%20been%20more%20than%20two,been%20granted%20one%20so%20far.
3 years after weed legalization, Ontario man still can't enter U.S. due to 20-year-old pot charge https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/weed-legalization-ontario-pardons-1.6212435
The Canadian drugs and substances strategy: The Government of Canada’s approach to substance use related harms and the overdose crisis                           https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-drugs-substances-strategy-approach-related-harms-overdose-crisis.html
Harm Reduction                   https://drugpolicy.ca/our-work/issues/harm-reduction/#:~:text=Harm%20Reduction%20is%20a%20philosophical,dated%20laws%2C%20systems%20and%20institutions.
Toronto drug squad cop facing 7 charges after arrest in Peel https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-drug-cop-arrest-peel-cocaine-meth-impaired-driving-1.7254034
9 arrested, more than $700K in drugs seized after interprovincial trafficking investigation: Winnipeg police https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-police-project-lowkey-drug-trafficking-investigation-1.7481399
R. v. Tim                                      https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/19299/index.do
Highly Potent Drug Linked to Sudden Death on Avalon Prompts Warning from RNC https://vocm.com/2025/04/04/highly-potent-drug-linked-to-sudden-death-on-avalon-prompts-warning-from-rnc/
Shroom Boom CBC https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/magic-mushroom-medicine
Magic mushroom dispensaries operating openly in Vancouver https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/magic-mushroom-dispensaries-in-vancouver-1.6385792
Health Canada denies terminally ill Sask. man permission to continue magic mushroom therapy https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/health-canada-denies-terminally-ill-sask-man-permission-to-continue-magic-mushroom-therapy-1.6765386
Psychedelics see increased legalization and decriminalization globally as treatment usages expand. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240320-legal-status-of-psychedelics-around-the-world
Cannabis crime statistics in Canada, 2020 https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/jf-pf/2022/jun.html#:~:text=In%202017%20
Thomas Hartle Obituary https://www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/thomas-hartle
Summerside man sentenced to 42 months for meth production https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-methamphetamine-production-sentence-1.3920593
About the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/about-good-samaritan-drug-overdose-act.html
Toronto police drug squad officer charged with impaired driving, drug possession https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/07/04/toronto-police-officer-arrested-impaired-drug-possession-charges/
 

EP 2. Canada's Gun Laws

Karen and Alex discuss the current firearms laws in Canada and how they have changed over time. Then we look at some cases that took place within Canada that were affected by or helped initiate our gun laws. 
Cases Discussed:
School Shootings in Canada, 1975-2013 |
École Polytechnique Massacre, Québec 1989 |
Parliament Hill Shooting, Ontario 2014 |
Nova Scotia Spree Killer, Nova Scotia 2020 
 
Sources 
RCMP History of Firearms in Canada https://rcmp.ca/en/firearms/history-firearms-canada
Trends in firearm-related violent crime in Canada, 2009 to 2020. Stats Canada https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00009-eng.htm
Other Countries Had Mass Shootings. Then They Changed Their Gun Laws. New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/world/europe/gun-laws-australia-britain.html
School Shootings by Country 2025. World Population Review https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/school-shootings-by-country
Taking action to reduce gun violence. Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms.html
Harper Government delivers on promise to abolish the long-gun registry. Government of Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2012/04/harper-government-delivers-promise-abolish-long-gun-registry.html
École Polytechnique massacre. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_Polytechnique_massacre
Marking 35 years since the L’École Polytechnique Massacre. Public Service Alliance of Canada https://psacunion.ca/marking-35-years-lecole-polytechnique-massacre
‘Hate is infectious’: how the 1989 mass shooting of 14 women echoes today. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/04/mass-shooting-1989-montreal-14-women-killed
Nova Scotia Shooting Incident – Timeline. Public Safety Canada https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20200730/021/index-en.aspx
2020 Nova Scotia attacks. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Nova_Scotia_attacks
Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry heavily criticizes police response. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65107912
2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_shootings_at_Parliament_Hill,_Ottawa
Parliament Hill Attack. The Canadian Encyclopedia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/parliament-hill-attack
Taber Shootings. The Canadian Encyclopedia https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/taber-shootings
School shootings in Canada. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:School_shootings_in_Canada
Brampton High School Shootings. Canadian True Crime Podcast https://www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes/146
Shell Lake murders. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Lake_murders\
A list of some past Canadian school shootings. Global News https://globalnews.ca/news/8621977/list-canadian-school-shootings/
Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns https://www.doctorsforprotectionfromguns.ca/#/
Charting gun violence in the United States. CBC
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gun-violence-charts-us-1.6847911
Ontario Court Confirms No Right to Bear Arms in Canada; Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal. Constitutional Studies https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2010/10/ontario-court-confirms-no-right-to-bear-arms-in-canada-supreme-court-will-not-hear-appeal/?print=print
 

Ep 1 Double Jeopardy Laws in Canada

Episode Description:
Karen and Alex discuss how Double Jeopardy laws are applied in Canada, and how they differ from those in the US. We review four different cases and how double jeopardy laws played a role in their outcomes.
Cases Discussed:
Richard Leonard Walker | Edmonton, 2013 Daniel Hodgson | Iqaluit, Nunavut, 2017 Colin Tweedie | Victoria County, NS, 2019 Guy Paul Morin | Queensville, Ontario, 1984
Sources:
IMDB: Double Jeopardy  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150377/plotsummary/
Wyman & Williamson | Criminal Defense Lawyers: Can I Be Tried Twice For The Same Crime In Canada?  https://albertalegal.ca/can-i-be-tried-twice-for-the-same-crime-in-canada/
USA Double Jeopardy Laws Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Jeopardy_Clause
Overview of (American) Double Jeopardy Clauses https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt5-3-1/ALDE_00000858/
British Columbia Prosecution Service Crown Counsel Policy Manual, Policy: Appeals by Crown to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada (Effective Date: March 1, 2018) https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/prosecution-service/crown-counsel-policy-manual/app-1.pdf
Appeals and Interventions in the Provinces and Territories  https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/pub/fpsd-sfpg/fps-sfp/tpd/p3/ch15.html
Where Can You Appeal Your Conviction? Kruse Law https://www.kruselaw.ca/library/when-can-you-appeal-a-conviction-kruse-law/
Canadian Encyclopedia: Guy Paul Morin  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/guy-paul-morin-case
Nunavut Judge Made 'No Error of Law' in Murder Acquittal, Supreme Court of Canada Says. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-judge-no-error-supreme-court-canada-1.7261726
Appeal Court Upholds Decision that Saw Accused Killer Acquitted. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/killer-trial-evidence-police-delay-1.7125935
A Judge Found an Edmonton Man Acted in Self-Defense When he Punched a Police Officer. Alberta's Top Court Just Overturned the Ruling https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/edmonton-police-officer-punched-mcdonalds-appeal
Appeal Court says Judge Who Acquitted N.S. Man in Hit-and-Run Death “Committed Errors of Law” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/colin-hugh-tweedie-nova-scotia-court-of-appeal-decision-talia-forrest-1.6753357
Colin Tweedie Resentenced https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/colin-tweedie-sentenced-to-45-years-in-hit-and-run-death-of-talia-forrest-in-cape-breton-100982518
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/colin-hugh-tweedie-nova-scotia-court-of-appeal-decision-talia-forrest-1.6753357
 
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/bitranscanadahighway, and send your episode topic suggestions to bitranscanadahighway@gmail.com 

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