Newsstand: June 5, 2015

In Ontario this morning: no more LGBTQ conversion therapy for kids, a huge set of gang-related raids, and electoral reforms from the Liberals.

By Tannara Yelland • Illustration by Matthew Daley

Yesterday, Ontario passed a private member’s bill from the NDP banning “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ kids. It’s been a subject of controversy for decades, and is based on the idea that people can realign their gender and sexual orientations with coaching. NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo called the treatment unethical and abusive, and called out the provincial healthcare plan for covering conversion therapies up until this bill passed.

Night-time raids conducted by the RCMP across the GTA led to the arrests of 35 suspected gang members and the seizure of 34 kilos of cocaine, $45,000 cash, and six firearms. A police investigator said at a press conference that the group calls itself The Monstarz, reminiscent of the villainous basketball team from Space Jam. Police also described the group as a “mid-level” gang, though it’s unclear what specifically that means.

The provincial government tabled legislation yesterday to create 15 new ridings in the province and move the fixed election date from fall to spring. Most of those ridings would be in the GTA, and they would increase the total number in the province from 107 to 122. Premier Kathleen Wynne also said her government plans to strengthen campaign advertising rules, though she wouldn’t comment on how and said she doesn’t support capping the amount unions and corporations can donate. Her Liberal party won a majority government last year after a record-high $8.6 million was spent by outside groups, the majority of which went to attacking the Progressive Conservatives.