The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police says it is taking no position on whether there should be some type of inquiry into the deaths of native women. It is easy to understand the care with which police approach the subject.  They are traditionally the whipping boy for some frustrated people when it comes to giving the sad story of aboriginal women a happy ending. The question of an inquiry is deeply inflamed. The political interests of native groups, the provinces and the federal government are thoroughly mixed together when demands are made for an inquiry. The issues extend far beyond aboriginal women. More native men die violently than women. Those who oppose this type of expensive and ineffective grandstand are often portrayed as heartless lowlifes blocking milk deliveries to the nursery. Maybe an inquiry can help. But appeals for one come with the vaguest ideas of what might be achieved. Issues related to aboriginal life in Canada are among the most intractable known to the country. Those working on the ground like former prime minister Paul Martin find occasional insights. His Martin Aboriginal Educational Initiative has found that home ownership gives native people a greater incentive to keep their homes repaired and liveable. It is a small thing but it has the potential to change a culture. Chris Selley in the National Post reviews opinion on how to help native women. He agrees with a writer who says an important cause is poverty on the reserve. How is that fixed? No judicial inquiry anywhere ever eliminated it. Whatever the answer, Selley observes tartly:  “It’s some job, though. isn’t it?”  Chris Selley Full Pundit

Toronto will permit MLSE to build a $30-million practice facility for the Raptors on the CNE grounds. In return, the City will own the facilities and MLSE will pay for upkeep, maintenance  and capital upkeep. Could be fair. Members voted 38-2 in favor at today’s last meeting before the October 27, 2014 general election. Only the Ford brother opposed the motion.  The space used for the centre will eliminate 200 parking spaces so MLSE and the City will split the cost of a $400 million parking garage. MLSE has promised to permit use of the facility to community groups for camps and tournaments as well as to Canada Basketball. NewsTalk1010

It’s an eye-catching headline that Canada-based Tim Hortons might be purchased by the U.S. chain Burger King and headquartered in Canada. It would create an enormous fast food company, the third largest in the world. But the stories from the U.S. today make it clear that it isn’t about the food as much as it is the taxes. Canadian taxes would be lower for such a new company. Reuters excellent account goes on for three pages talking about comparable deals and non-deals. Walgreen had a chance to “invert” its taxes when it bought a European drugstore, says Reuters. Inversion is the name for grabbing the cheaper tax rate. But it didn’t happen because Walgreen got cold feet about what the U.S. government might do. Walgreen would still have to do business with Uncle Sam. So nobody at Tims or Burger King is really thinking about what a new fast food mammoth would look like at the counter. Rather, they’re counting the dollars and the political impact to see if makes sense for Burger King to kiss off  its American status. Sorry to be so unromantic about your friend Tim.  Reuters