DECEMBER
2012
EDITION
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News in Review is produced by CBC News
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News in Review, December 2012
1. Learning from the Death of Amanda Todd
(Length: 14:47)
2. U.S. Election: Obama Re-elected
(Length: 16:34)
3. Canada's Spy Story
(Length: 14:51)
4. Truth, Lies and Confessions
(Length: 18:42)
DECEMBER 2012
CONTENTS
IN THIS ISSUE ..........................................................................................................2
Learning from the Death of Amanda Todd
SETTING THE STAGE ................................................................................................................................ 4
VIDEO REVIEW ........................................................................................................................................ 6
ACTIVITY: Digging Deeper ...................................................................................................................... 10
U.S. Election: Obama Re-elected
SETTING THE STAGE .............................................................................................................................. 12
VIDEO REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 14
ACTIVITY: Weighing In ........................................................................................................................... 17
Canada's Spy Story
MINDS-ON ACTIVITY .............................................................................................................................. 19
SETTING THE STAGE .............................................................................................................................. 19
ACTIVITY................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIDEO REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 20
ACTIVITY: Two Perspectives ................................................................................................................... 22
ACTIVITY: Canada's Intelligence History ................................................................................................. 23
Truth, Lies and Confessions
MINDS-ON ACTIVITY .............................................................................................................................. 25
SETTING THE STAGE .............................................................................................................................. 25
VIDEO REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 27
ACTIVITY: Primary Source Analysis ......................................................................................................... 29
COMMUNITY CONNECTION ................................................................................................................... 30
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DECEMBER 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
Learning from the Death of Amanda Todd (Length: 14:47)
B.C. teenager Amanda Todd was bullied relentlessly for years before choosing to take her own life.
What can we learn from this tragedy, and what must change to stop bullying?
News in Review Study Modules
Related CBC Videos
Teen Suicide: Breaking the Silence,
November 2011
A New Campaign to Fight Bullying,
December 2010
Teaching Children How to Care,
December 2006
Bullies in Schools, September 2001
Reena Virk: A Senseless Death, May 2000
#bullyPROOF
Boys Will Be Boys: Sexual Harassment in
Schools
Bullied, Battered & Bruised + Update
Class Queers
Cyber-Bullying
It's a Girl's World: How Girls Use Their Power to
Hurt Each Other
It's a Teen's World: Wired for Sex, Lies and
Power Trips
Sext up KIDS
U.S. Election: Obama Re-elected (Length: 16:34)
Barack Obama is the President of the United States for another four years after defeating Republican
challenger Mitt Romney. We review the campaign and look at both men's successes and failures.
News in Review Study Modules
Related CBC Videos
The Great U.S. Health Care Debate,
December 2009
Barack Obama Visits Canada, March 2009
Americans Choose a New President,
November 2008
Barack Obama: Great Expectations
Meltdown: The Secret History of the Global
Financial Collapse
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DECEMBER 2012
Canada's Spy Story (Length: 14:51)
Royal Canadian Navy Sub-Lieutenant Jeffery Paul Delisle has confessed to being a spy for Russia. We
show what he did, how he managed to get away with it for so long, and what motivated him to betray
his country.
News in Review Study Modules
Related CBC Videos
U.S.-China: The Risks of Spying, May 2001
CSIS: Spying on Canada, October 1994
Inside CSIS
Spies Who Came from the Sea
Truth, Lies and Confessions (Length: 18:42)
A popular police interrogation method is seen as a success for all the confessions it helps elicit from
suspects. Detractors acknowledge its success but also claim it can pressure people into confessing to
crimes they did not commit.
News in Review Study Modules
Related CBC Videos
Bill C-30 and Internet Privacy, April 2012
Cracking Down on Tasers, February 2008
Policing and Race in Canada, December 2002
Best of News in Review: Law
Eyewitness: Unreliable Evidence
Inside the Interrogation Room: Police Tactics
Mounties Under Fire
Steven Truscott: His Word Against History
Steven Truscott Story: Moment of Truth
Exercises marked with this symbol indicate that a worksheet to aid in the exploration of the
topic is available online.
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News in Review – December 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide
LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
SETTING THE STAGE
It is a story that has become all too familiar.
A young woman is a victim of cyberbullying.
Targeted, taunted, mocked and humiliated
online. And when she goes to school, people
whisper about her, refuse to be friends with
her, and move away from her when she is
eating in the cafeteria.
Note to Teachers and Students
This News in Review story deals with the issues of bullying and suicide. Some of the material is very disturbing, and
it is important to make sure that a safe climate exists in the classroom before these issues are explored.
She tried to make a new start a couple of times
— changing schools in an attempt to leave her
past behind and begin again. But in the world of
online bullying, it doesn’t matter where you live
because information travels everywhere.
Students from the previous school tell students
at the new school horrible things about her, and
the bullying continued.
She was relentlessly bullied for three years. She
became depressed and suffered from anxiety and
panic attacks. On one occasion she tried to kill
herself by drinking bleach.
Her parents were loving and supportive, and
they did everything they could to help her. They
put her in counselling, moved houses to get her
away from local kids who were teasing her,
helped her to switch schools, and at one point
even moved cities to help her get free of the
bullying. But all these efforts failed to stop the
tide of the abuse.
Eventually, the parents contacted the police for
help in identifying her cyber attackers, but this
action came too late. The young woman —
Amanda Todd — had given up all hope of
anything improving, and she took her own life.
She was 15.
A National Debate is Sparked
Amanda Todd’s suicide on October 10, 2012 set
off a national debate. Not only because it was
another tragic case of a life cut short as a result
of cruel and vicious bullying, but also because
before her suicide Todd had posted a nineminute YouTube video in which she used a
series of flash cards to tell her experience of
being bullied. After her suicide the video post
went viral, receiving over 1.5 million views by
October 13, 2012.
The video was heartbreaking, and served as a
visual suicide note. The video itself generated
discussion and debate, as did the posts that
appeared on YouTube. Some people posted
comments mocking Todd for her feelings, and
calling her ugly and stupid. Some people even
made fun of her for killing herself. Some people
4
DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
also left horrible comments on her Facebook
page following her death.
But on the other hand, an avalanche of support
for Amanda and her family followed her death.
More than a million people have “like” Todd’s
memorial page on Facebook, and tributes have
been held for her across the country. The RCMP
is investigating her death and trying to locate the
key people who bullied Todd. And on October
15, 2012 a motion was introduced in the House
of Commons to put a nationwide anti-bullying
strategy in place.
Amanda Todd’s family does not want her short
life and death to have been for nothing. They
want Amanda’s YouTube video to be debated in
schools and at dinner tables, and they want
young people to stop acting in cruel and hurtful
ways. They believe that the anonymity of the
internet allows people to engage in cruel
behaviour that they would never conduct if they
had to do it to another person’s face.
Although the debate over how to curb
cyberbullying is far from over, it seems clear
that the problem is no longer a secret, and that
those who engage in this type of cruel and
shameful behaviour are going to find themselves
persecuted if they choose to bully others.
To Consider
1. Everyone knows how bad it feels to be picked on so why do some kids choose to pick on others?
2. Why didn’t anyone stand up for Amanda Todd? How hard would it have been for someone to be nice
to her, include her in a group, or eat with her at lunch?
3. Take a moment and write a message to her parents sharing your feelings about their daughter’s
suicide.
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Activity
Organize yourself into small groups and respond to the following questions and activities. Be prepared to
share your responses with the rest of the class.
Context
The issue of bullying is not new. Most people can share stories of when they, or someone they
know, was bullied. But cyberbullying — where young people are targeted through Facebook or
other forms of social media — is a relatively new phenomenon. It has only really been an issue
for the past ten years.
1. Is cyberbullying different than “regular” bullying? Explain.
2. Does the fact that cyberbullying occurs online and is anonymous make it easier for people to become
bullies? Provide at least one reason for your answer.
3. Why don’t kids who are being cyberbullied take themselves completely offline? (For example, delete
their Facebook page, get rid of their smart phone, and not check social media sites.)
4. Make a list of things that you think teachers, other adults, and schools could do to reduce bullying.
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
Viewing Questions
1. Explain what was in Amanda Todd’s video.
2. Why do some experts worry that the video might lead to problems for some kids?
3. Why does Professor Hymel, from the University of British Columbia, say that drawing a line between
bullying and suicide is too simplistic?
4. What disturbing thing happened to her Facebook page after her death?
5. Why can’t the police do anything about the hateful messages being posted on Amanda Todd’s
memorial page?
6. Where were Amanda Todd’s cyberbullies from?
7. Who is “Anonymous” and what does the group do? What did it do in response to Amanda Todd’s
bullying and suicide?
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
8. What is the problem with vigilante justice online?
9. Why do some people say that it is easier to bully in person than face-to-face?
10. What steps should parents take to help prevent bullying?
11. Record some of the ways that Amanda Todd’s death has been memorialized across the country.
Post-viewing Activities
With a partner, or in a small group, reflect on the video material and discuss the following questions.
1. Do you think Amanda Todd’s online behaviour was outrageous, or fairly “normal”?
2. How do you think the man that she “flashed” was able to locate her (track her down)?
3. Does it concern you that your online actions can be tracked or traced by another person?
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
4. Why do you think the man decided to harass and victimize Amanda?
5. Why do you think Amanda’s friends and other kids at the schools she attended joined in the bullying?
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
ACTIVITY: Digging Deeper
The life and death of Amanda Todd gained widespread media attention. This is because people were
horrified at the extent of the bullying she experienced, as well as the fact that she committed suicide. But
her case also gained widespread attention because she chose to chronicle her pain in a YouTube video.
The video — which some people feel was basically an online suicide note — has been watched by
millions of people around the world.
Unfortunately, Amanda Todd is not the only young person who has been bullied and has committed
suicide. Review the cases below and complete an organizer in your notebook that identifies similarities
and differences between each case and Amanda’s case. These notes will help you complete the discussion
questions at the end of this feature.
For example:
Case
Similarities to
Amanda Todd Story
Jenna Bowers-Bryanton
In January 2011, 15-year-old Jenna BowersBryanton, from Belmont, Nova Scotia,
committed suicide after being harassed at school
and through a social networking site.
Jenna was not your typical victim. She was a
talented drama student and singer. People recall
that “she lit up a room” when she entered it. But
for some reason, she became the target of
bullies.
Girls in her class pretended to vomit when she
walked into the classroom. And an older student
slapped her on her first back to school in Grade
10. Her mom, Pam Murchison, took immediate
action and pulled her out of school.
What her mother didn’t anticipate was that the
bullying would continue to reach Jenna at home
through social media. Jenna received mean
messages via SMS and on forums such as
Formspring. Jenna’s cyberbullies ridiculed her
Differences from
Amanda Todd Story
looks, her personality, and her singing ability.
They told her she might as well kill herself.
In January 2011, she took her own life.
Mitchell Wilson
Mitchell Wilson was an 11-year-old boy from
Pickering, Ontario, who suffered from muscular
dystrophy and had to use a walker to get around.
In 2011, two boys beat Mitchell on the street and
stole his iPhone. After the beating, Mitchell
suffered from depression and anxiety and lived
in fear of another attack. One boy was charged
with assault after Mitchell identified him as one
of Mitchell’s attackers. Mitchell was terrified
when he learned he’d have to face his attacker in
court and testify against him. Just before the trial
began, Mitchell took his own life.
Without Mitchell’s testimony, and the ability of
the defense to cross-examine Mitchell about his
certain identification of the boy, the boy was
found not-guilty.
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DECEMBER 2012 — LEARNING FROM THE DEATH OF AMANDA TODD
Your Task
These are difficult stories to think about. They all involve young people who have been tormented by
other kids, and who have chosen to kill themselves. But it is important to reflect on these stories so that
you can think about your own life, the lives of your friends, and what these tragedies mean for us as a
society.
With a partner, discuss each of the following statements or questions. Record your thoughts in your
notebooks. Your teacher may choose to discuss these with the entire class.
Teen girls tend to be bullied in a different way. While the bullying of males typically
(1) “
involves physical aggression, girls tend to be the target of social and verbal harassment,
„
including exclusion or having others talk — or in many cases now, text — about them
behind their backs.
– Shannon Freud, Kids Help Phone (Globe and Mail, October 14, 2012)
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Are we teaching our children through our words and deeds that might does not make
(2) “
right, that stealing is wrong, that one of the bravest things a person can do is own up to his
or her mistakes? Taking the time to learn from this case, and working together to ensure
„
that such a tragedy never happens again, is the least we can do to express our sorrow to the
Wilson family and honour the memory of Mitchell Wilson.
– Justice Mary Teresa Devlin, after acquitting a 13-year-old boy of beating Mitchell Wilson
(The Toronto Star, March 5, 2012)
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Cases of suicides linked to cyberbullying have grown over the past decade, but being
(3) “
tormented over the Internet is rarely the main factor involved, a new Canadian study shows.
There have been 41 suicides since 2003 involving cyberbullying in the United States, Canada,
„
Australia and the United Kingdom, but most of the victims were also bullied in school and
many suffered from mental illness, including depression.
– John C. LeBlanc, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax
(CBC News, October 20, 2012)
What point is Professor LeBlanc trying to make? Do you agree with his argument? Why or why not?
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News in Review – December 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide
U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
SETTING THE STAGE
A YouTube clip of a little girl crying and saying
she was “tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt
Romney” captured the sentiments of many
Americans in the final days before Election Day.
Although election night fell on November 6,
2012, the campaign for president began as early
as 2010 in the national media, and in a concerted
way by both parties in 2011. By January 2012
— a full 10 months before election night — over
50 per cent of Americans reported that the
election campaign had already been going on too
long (Pew Research Center, January 18, 2012).
Every four years — on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in November — Americans go to
the polls to elect their president. Election Day
2012 saw the Democratic President Barack
Obama square off again the Republican
candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt
Romney. By all accounts, it was a long and
bitter campaign. Both candidates were involved
in negative campaigning — pointing out the
weaknesses of their opponents rather than
focusing on the policy issues at hand — and
both candidates were sometimes defensive,
changed their positions, made exaggerated
statements, and ridiculed the other.
This is not unusual for election campaigns, but
when President Obama was elected in 2008 he
had run a fairly clean campaign. One that
focused on hope and change, and the promise
that he could unite Americans from different
political persuasions, and work with politicians
across party lines. So his campaign for the 2012
election stood in marked contrast to the 2008
campaign.
But times had changed since President Obama
was elected in 2008. The President inherited a
Check It Out
A YouTube clip of a little girl crying because she
was sick of hearing about the American election
showed up in news broadcasts around the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjrthOPLAKM
three trillion dollar deficit when he took office,
and then had to deal with an economic collapse,
the depth of which had not been seen since the
Great Depression of the 1920s. Many of the
promises he’d made in 2008 were quickly
overshadowed by the economic crisis.
Despite the extremely difficult financial
situation he faced, President Obama did deliver
on a number of his promises from the 2008
campaign. He introduced a health care reform
bill, withdrew American troops from
Afghanistan, and worked to improve the
reputation of the United States around the world.
Supporters of Republican challenger Mitt
Romney felt that President Obama’s fiscal plan
was flawed. They wanted to reduce taxes to
stimulate the economy, and they argued that
Obama and the Democratic Party were moving
the country in a direction that was far too liberal.
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
This was because the Democrats support
reproductive choice for women, same-sex
marriage and reform to immigration.
The Republicans, on the other hand, supported
policies that were more socially conservative.
The Republican Party is not pro-choice, and
some of its members hold the position that
abortion should be illegal, even in cases where a
woman is raped. They also do not believe in
same-sex marriage, and some members of the
party believe that homosexuality itself is a sin.
They believe that America needs to return to its
roots: a socially conservative country, with less
government.
Although the election result was very close —
too close to call before election night — the
results were very interesting. The Republicans
had the most support from white males,
especially those over 30 years of age. The
Democrats had the most support from women,
immigrants, black Americans, and younger
Americans across racial and ethnic lines.
In any event, President Obama was given
another four years to lead the country. And since
this is his final term in office he will push ahead
with policies to leave the greatest legacy
possible. Already, some people are talking about
the next election — speculating that Hillary
Clinton of the Democratic Party — will run for
president.
Checking Understanding
1. If you could have voted for the president of the United States, whom would you have voted for?
Why?
2. Which of the two dominant political parties in the United States do you think most reflects
“Canadian” values? Explain your answer.
3. How would you compare the leadership qualities of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with
those of U.S. President Barack Obama?
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Activity
Work with a partner to complete the following organizer. The organizer is designed to help you
understand some of the differences between the American and Canadian political and electoral systems.
Canada
United States
Leader of the country
(Name of position)
Leader of the country
(Name of person)
Main political parties
Political party that is the
most socially conservative
How is the leader of the
country elected?
The name of the lower house
of government
The name of the upper
house of government
How health care is managed
Viewing Questions
1. Rick Santorum was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2012 U.S. election race.
Identify some of his beliefs.
2. What happened when Santorum withdrew from the nomination race?
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
3. a) What is President Obama’s position on same-sex marriage?
b) What is Mitt Romney’s position on same-sex marriage?
4. President Obama has always had a great deal of support amongst the Hollywood community and
famous stars. What happened when Mitt Romney tried to use the star power of Clint Eastwood in his
campaign?
5. How did the Republican Party handle the “Clint-astrophe”?
6. Which of the two candidates was considered to have won the first televised presidential debate?
And why?
7. Who is considered to have won the next two debates?
8. In what ways did Hurricane Sandy help President Obama during the campaign? (2)
9. President Obama was re-elected on November 6. What are some of the major impacts that will have
on the United States in the following areas?
a) Taxes
b) Health care
c) The economy
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
Post-viewing Activities
With a partner, or in a small group, reflect on the video material
and discuss the following questions.
1. American presidential campaigns last for many months and
cost billions of dollars. Canadian election campaigns are not
inexpensive, but they are not as expensive or as lengthy. Do
you think there should be limits placed on campaign spending
and extravagance? If so, why and what?
Further Research
Visit the Elections Canada
website at www.elections.ca/
home.aspx to learn more about
the Canadian electoral system.
2. What influence do televised presidential debates have in the United States? How does that compare to
televised leadership debates here in Canada?
3. Do you think Americans are more involved in the political process and elections in the United States
than we are here in Canada? Explain your answer.
4. a) What is one lesson you’d like Canadian politicians to learn from the American style of politics?
b) What is one lesson you’d like American politicians to learn from the Canadian style of politics?
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
ACTIVITY: Weighing In
Elections in countries like Canada and the United States are really a fight for public opinion as much as
they are about anything else.
Political parties hire public relations firms to learn how to “sell” their positions to the public. Political
candidates get public speaking training and image makeovers, which includes tips for how to style their
hair and what glasses and clothing they should wear. And political parties spend an inordinate amount of
money on media campaigns to convince voters that their candidate is the right one, and all other
opponents will be a bad choice.
But when we have a chance to clear away all the media hype and political spin, there are always a number
of very important issues that need to be addressed and discussed during an election campaign.
Your Task
Below and on the following page you’ll find a number of quotes. Read each quote, and write a response
to each in your notebook.
1. Comment on the extent to which you agree or disagree with each quote. Make sure you explain your
position on each quote.
2. When you are finished evaluating each quote, write a concluding statement that sums up your overall
opinion of the 2012 presidential election in the United States. Do you think the right person won?
„
“
America’s changing. I’m calling it
‘Obamerica.’ It’s a different place. It’s much
more multicultural, much more diverse, a
much more open, tolerant place. It’s also a
place that doesn’t quite know where its soul
is at.
„
– Gil Troy, history professor at McGill University
(CBC News, November 7, 2012)
“
It’s been dreadful — in many ways the
worse campaign I’ve ever lived through. We
saw two honourable men absolutely pollute
themselves in desperation to be president or
remain president. Two serious, intelligent,
previously honourable men who told
untruths, changed their positions, refused to
talk about many of the most serious issues
we face . . .
– Stephen Hess, presidential scholar, The Brookings
Institution (Toronto Star, November 3, 2012).
“
It is not easy to feel sorry for Mitt Romney…
he looks too comfortably well off, his skin
too shiny and tanned, his hair too
expensively cut, his jeans too well pressed.
He estimates his personal wealth at
somewhere between $210m and $250m.
When you don’t know how rich you are to
the nearest $40m, it must be hard to relate
to people who know exactly how little there
is in their pay packets.
„
– Nicholas Wapshott, New Statesman, June 11, 2012
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DECEMBER 2012 — U.S. ELECTION: OBAMA RE-ELECTED
“
Obama’s re-election to another four-year
term should guarantee the future of his
signature legislative achievement, a health
care overhaul…. Internationally, it means the
United States is likely to continue a foreign
policy emphasizing multinational
partnerships in dealing with issues such as
Syria's civil war and Iran’s nuclear program….
Obama’s victory could also come as a relief
to China since Romney had pledged to
declare it a currency manipulator, potentially
leading to sanctions and escalating trade
tensions.
„
– Editorial, Toronto Star, November 7, 2012
“
It doesn’t matter whether you’re black, or
white, or Hispanic, or Asian, or native
American, or young, or old, or rich, or poor,
abled, disabled, gay, or straight, you can
make it here in America if you’re willing to
try.
„
“
Former Republican presidential challenger
Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama
won re-election last week because of the
‘gifts’ Obama had provided to blacks,
Hispanics and young voters and because of
his effort to paint Romney as antiimmigrants.
„
– CTV News online, November 15, 2012
“
Obama has the chance to shape and leave a
legacy not just for himself, but also for his
party, through the election’s connection with
new constituencies that seem to be
forming…. Polls have indicated a large
majority of the Latino community favours
immigration reform that would give some
path toward permanent residency to the
more than 12 million undocumented
immigrants who already live and work in the
United States.
„
– Andrew Davidson, CBC News, November 7, 2012
– President Obama, acceptance speech,
November 6, 2012
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News in Review – December 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide
CANADA'S SPY STORY
MINDS-ON ACTIVITY
Discuss the following questions before reading:
1. How does the media portray spies?
2. How do you think spies in the "real world" may
differ from those in books, television and movies?
3. Why do you think countries spy on each other?
What types of information do you think are the target
of spying?
SETTING THE STAGE
Hollywood portrays spies as glamorous, athletic
and highly intelligent people jumping from
planes and engaging in high speed car chases
with their guns ablaze. However, spying is not a
new phenomenon nor is it especially glamorous
work.
Spies have existed since the beginning of
civilization. As nations competed with each
other over land and resources it became
increasingly important to stay one step ahead of
foreign powers by knowing their secrets.
Spying is the gathering of secret knowledge or
"intelligence" held by a different nation or
peoples without their knowledge. These secrets
tend to involve military information such as the
location, size and strength of weapons and
troops in addition to future plans for military
activities. They may also steal technology,
convince others to defect to their side, and
sabotage military or political plans. Spies often
infiltrate the military or industrial ranks of
another nation to get access to this confidential
information. There are strict laws against
espionage and severe punishments for spies in
most nations since spying compromises the
security of a nation.
In addition to international espionage, domestic
spying also exists. Governments may want to
keep track of perceived threats to their own
national stability. Many nations have a "secret
service" that is directly involved in intelligence
and espionage. This government-sanctioned
intelligence gathering is a controversial area of
government activity since the nation's security
interests may compete with its citizens’ desire
for privacy.
ACTIVITY
Define as many of the following espionage terms as you can and then check a reliable source to insure
your definition is correct.
double agent
deep cover operative
agent provocateur
re-doubled agent
safe house
covert agent
sleeper agent
cyber spy
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DECEMBER 2012 — CANADA'S SPY STORY
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Activities
Answer the following questions individually, then discuss them with a partner. Prepare to debrief as a
class.
1. What do you think might motivate someone to become a spy against their own country?
2. What qualities or characteristics do you think would make an effective spy?
3. List as many ways that you can think of that a government tries to prevent spying.
4. Do you think the Canadian government engages in spying? On whom and why?
Viewing Questions
1. Why is this case very serious and of "grave concern"?
2. Where did Delisle work?
3. What is the maximum penalty that Delisle could face?
4. HMCS Trinity in Halifax is the hub for _____________ intelligence. It tracks all vessels moving in
and out of Canadian waters, using _______________, drones and ____________________.
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DECEMBER 2012 — CANADA'S SPY STORY
5. What additional information did Delisle have access to?
6. In addition to Russia, what other countries may be interested in Canada's intelligence?
7. Why did the Canadian government not publically expel the Russian diplomats?
8. Why is Delisle's guilty plea a relief for the government?
9. How did technology assist in this case of espionage?
10. Why did Delisle get caught?
11. Stone Ghost is a programme that shares classified information between the U.S., _________,
Australia, ____________, and Canada.
12. What information did the Russians want according to Delisle?
Post-viewing Questions
1. Did Lt. Jeffery Paul Delisle fit your description of an effective spy? Why or why not?
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DECEMBER 2012 — CANADA'S SPY STORY
2. Why do you think Delisle became a spy?
3. What punishment do you think he should face and why?
4. Is spying an inevitable or do you think the government could do more to prevent its own citizens from
spying?
5. Recently it has come to light that it was the FBI that alerted the RCMP of the fact that Delisle was an
informant for the Russians. Why do you think this fact embarrassed the Canadian government?
ACTIVITY: Two Perspectives
Explain the reason for these two viewpoints on the Delisle espionage case. Consider the source, the bias
and the point of view.
on CSIS analysis and our current knowledge of the totality of the compromise,
“Based
Delisle's unauthorized disclosures to the Russians since 2007 has caused severe and
irreparable damage to Canadian interests.„
– CSIS report 2012-02-22
spy on everybody. Everybody spies. It's uh…(laughs). And, and our Western values, you
“We
know it's uh … everybody spies and we spy on our friends and they spy on us and we hold
hands smile and it's … it's hypocritical.„
– Jeffery Paul Delisle quoted during his police interrogation.
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DECEMBER 2012 — CANADA'S SPY STORY
ACTIVITY: Canada's Intelligence History
Minds-On Activity
1. About which countries do you think Canada gathers the most intelligence? Why?
2. Which countries do you think want intelligence about Canada? Why?
Leader in Signals Intelligence
Where does Canada fit in the world community
in terms of espionage? Canada's intelligence
resources centred around the work of the RCMP
until World War II where dramatic events led to
Canada being pushed to the forefront of
protecting its ally, Great Britain. It was then that
Canada became a leader in signals intelligence.
Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by
monitoring, intercepting, decoding and
interpreting radio, radar and other
communication signals. Many Canadian,
American and British women were involved in
transcribing and translated coded messages.
Signals intelligence was vital in monitoring the
movement of enemy troops, planes and vessels.
Canada tracked naval signals to convoys of ships
in the western Atlantic, warning of German Uboat activity. Canadian intelligence also
intercepted and decrypted German agent
messages. The RCMP captured 3 German agents
sent to Canada. Canadians served with
distinction with the SOE (Special Operations
Executive) a secret resistance group created by
Winston Churchill to aid a resistance movement
in occupied France.
At the end of World War II, the Canadian
government believed that there was a need to
sustain intelligence efforts and to cooperate with
its allies in gathering intelligence. The
Communications Security Establishment allows
signals intelligence exchanges between Britain,
the United States and other commonwealth
countries.
The Gouzenko Affair
The most startling case of spying in Canada was
involved a Russian man named Igor Gouzenko.
On September 5, 1945, Igor Gouzenko, a cipher
clerk in the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa defected
to the Canadian authorities. He revealed to the
RCMP that a number of Soviet spy rings were
operating in highly sensitive government
departments and nuclear laboratory facilities.
These revelations caught Canada unaware since
Russia had been considered an ally during the
war. The government beefed up internal security
and counter intelligence measures. The Cold
War had begun — leading to decades of mutual
suspicion and spying between the U.S. (and its
allies) as new world power and the Soviet Union
(and its allies).
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DECEMBER 2012 — CANADA'S SPY STORY
CSIS Arrives on the Scene
Canada continues to be a target of spying by
various foreign powers, largely because of our
proximity to the United States and Russia. In
1984, a new civilian intelligence organization
came into being in Canada, called the Canadian
Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The
RCMP Security Service was disbanded largely
in response to criticism of its performance.
Canada continues to play a large role in defence
alliances such as NATO and NORAD from
which it gains access to a wider pool of strategic
intelligence.
Canada in Question
Canada's reputation as a secure nation with
which to share intelligence came into question in
January 2012, when the FBI alerted the RCMP
that there was a Canadian spy who had been
sharing secrets with Russia for over four years.
Royal Canadian Navy Sub.-Lt. Jeffrey Paul
Delisle plead guilty to passing secret
information to a foreigner in breach of the
federal Security of Information Act, a law
passed in the aftermath of the September 11
terror attacks. He is also charged with breach of
trust under the Criminal Code of Canada. Delisle
has admitted to sending CSIS reports,
information on organized crime, contact details
for U.S. Defence officials and intelligence
officers in Australia and Canada.
His arrest has raised questions of internal
security due to the crude methods used by
Delisle to extract the information. He used
floppy discs and USB drives to smuggle data
from his secure office in Halifax to his home —
and then on to Russian agents via online email.
He was paid $3,000 a month for the stolen
information. He has plead guilty and is awaiting
sentencing. He faces a possible sentence of
life imprisonment.
Questions after Reading
1. Why did World War II mark a change in Canada's participation in espionage?
2. Why did the Gouzenko spy case surprise the Canadian government and its allies?
3. Research Delisle's final sentence. Do you think he deserved this sentence?
Did You Know?
In the early 1940s, the British established a training camp for spies just outside Oshawa. Camp X
trained mainly British and American intelligence agents. There is speculation that Ian Fleming,
the creator of James Bond, trained there.
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News in Review – December 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide
TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
MINDS-ON ACTIVITY
Before further reading complete the questions
below. Discuss your answers as a class.
What do you think?
Indicate below if you agree, somewhat agree,
disagree or strongly disagree with the
following statements:
1. A trained, experienced interrogator is
better at detecting if someone is lying to
them than an untrained individual.
2. People should be treated as if they are innocent until they are proven guilty.
3. Police should be allowed to aggressively interrogate a suspect in order to solve a crime and catch a
dangerous criminal.
Indicate below if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.
A. Psychological manipulation is not allowed during a Canadian police investigation.
B. A small percentage of suspects in a criminal investigation waive their right to silence and a lawyer.
C. Sometimes people confess to a crime he or she did not commit.
D. Confessions must be voluntary in order to be upheld by the law.
SETTING THE STAGE
The scene is a cramped, brightly lit police
interrogation room with no windows. The
suspect is sweating, arms crossed and refusing to
talk. The two police officers involved are taking
turns with “good cop” and “bad cop”
interrogation styles. One officer tries to befriend
the suspect and assures him that the law will be
lenient if he cooperates; the other officer badgers
and intimidates the suspect in order to get him to
confess. While this scene plays out on a nightly
basis on television crime dramas, the reality of
the interrogation process is more complex and
nuanced.
So what actual happens during a Canadian
criminal investigation? The gathering of
evidence from witnesses and forensics often
results in a person being arrested for a crime. In
Canadian criminal law, all accused persons are
innocent until proven guilty, and they have the
right to legal counsel (a lawyer) and to remain
silent in the face of police questioning. Many
people waive these rights and choose to
cooperate with police through the process of an
interview (in the US 75-80% of all suspects
waive their right to silence and counsel). The
decision to do so most likely arises from their
belief that they can best argue their own
innocence.
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DECEMBER 2012 — TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
Most police officers believe they can detect
deceit during an interrogation. Research shows,
however, that compared to "untrained
individuals," police investigators perform no
better than chance (50% accuracy) in detecting
lies. Police interrogators also demonstrate a bias
towards finding suspects "deceitful" rather than
"truthful." They can be more likely to conclude
that any suspect being interviewed is guilty.
The Reid Technique
In Canada, the United States and Great Britain, a
style of police interrogation called the Reid
Technique is used when interviewing accused
suspects. This technique has recently been
criticized for leading to false confessions and
Charter of Rights violations. The technique
assumes that the accused is guilty and can be
manipulated into making a confession through a
three-part procedure.
The first component is the interviewing of
witnesses and victims. The second is a nonaccusatorial interview of the suspect to assess
whether or not he or she is lying. The police
officer will display sympathy and understanding
at the beginning of an interview with the suspect
to gain trust. The officer may suggest two
alternative scenarios or motivations for the
crime, each worse than the next, to encourage
the subject to confess to the lesser crime of the
two. Thirdly, the interrogator moves to a more
accusatorial interrogation in which the main
objective is securing a confession through
psychological coercion and by minimizing the
consequences of confessing to the crime. If the
suspect maintains he or she is innocent, the Reid
Technique stipulates that the officer should tell
the suspect the crime is already solved. The
officer issues a warning that the only question is
how harsh the punishment will be.
The Reid Technique has its critics both in and
outside of the legal system. Some claim it leads
to false confessions and that it borders on
violating the rights of citizens. The strongest
argument against Reid interrogations is a
number of documented cases in which suspects
confessed (some were convicted and sentenced
to death) but were later exonerated by irrefutable
evidence (typically DNA testing). A number of
factors can contribute to an initial false
confession but interrogation techniques account
for a significant proportion of these cases.
A proposed alternative to the Reid Technique is
known as PEACE, an acronym that refers to a
five-part process: (1) preparation and planning,
(2) engage and explain, (3) account, (4) closure
and (5) evaluation. According to its supporters,
this method focuses on disproving theories
rather than proving hunches. Its methods have
been adopted by police forces in Great Britain
and training has begun in Ontario and B.C.
Critics of the PEACE methods say it doesn't
have enough "teeth" to be an effective method of
persuading suspected criminals to tell the truth,
and that the Reid Technique has been very
effective at obtaining confessions. The debate on
the best interrogation model remains unresolved.
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DECEMBER 2012 — TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Questions
1. Do you think police should be allowed to use deceit and/or use psychological coercion to get a
confession of guilt from a suspect in a criminal investigation? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think some people make false confessions?
Viewing Questions
1. What is the Reid Technique?
2. What is the main concern regarding the use of the Reid Technique?
3. After starting out by" playing it tough," what does the Reid Technique suggest the interrogator do to
the suspect?
4. What is the purpose of presenting the suspect with two reasons for committing the crime?
5. True or False? Under Canadian law, lying to suspects is allowed.
6. Why was Cory Armishaw's confession "thrown out" by a judge?
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DECEMBER 2012 — TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
7. According to Craig Perry, what is the main goal of the Reid Interrogation Technique?
8. What crime did Brenda Waudby confess to and why?
9. According to The Innocence Projects in the U.S., _______ out of _______ post-conviction DNA
exonerations involved a false confession.
10. List two ways new interrogation techniques differ from the Reid Techniques.
11. What country uses the PEACE interrogation model?
12. What happened to Cory Armishaw and Brenda Waudby?
Post-viewing Activity
Return to the Pre-viewing Questions and reconsider your answers with a small group. What information
in the video made you reconsider your answers? What questions remain?
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DECEMBER 2012 — TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
ACTIVITY: Primary Source Analysis
Select a transcript of an actual police interrogation. Analyse this primary source using the chart below,
noting in particular which of the following Reid Techniques of Interrogation were used.
An interesting possible example would be a transcript of RCMP Sergeant Jimmy Moffat interrogating
Canadian Forces naval intelligence officer Jeffery Delisle. In January 2012, Officer Delisle was accused of
spying on Canada for the Russian government.
A transcript of the Delisle interrogation can be found on the CBC News website:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/10/23/ns-navy-spy-documents-.html
Reid Interrogation Technique
Evidence from Transcript
In early part of interview interviewer establishes if
suspect is “fit” for the interview (not sick, hungry,
under the influence of drugs, injured etc.)
Investigator establishes rapport
Investigator offers “themes” or reasons for the
crime that allow the suspect to “save face” or to
minimize the seriousness of the crime
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DECEMBER 2012 — TRUTH, LIES AND CONFESSIONS
Investigator offers evidence that the suspect is
guilty
Investigator offers an alternative question in which
an answer points to their guilt
(e.g. "Did you blow the money on drugs and
partying, or did you use it to pay bills?"; "Was this
whole thing your idea or did you get talked into
it?")
Investigator displays understanding and sympathy
for the accused
The interrogation process lasts a long time
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Invite a community police detective to talk about Charter Rights and police interrogation. Prepare
questions ahead of the talk regarding police investigations and training in interrogation.
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