Brendan Kennedy
@bkstar.bsky.social
Toronto Star investigative reporter. (On parental leave until April 2026.) bkennedy@thestar.ca. I'm on Signal. SecureDrop: http://thestar.com/securedrop
Pinned
Brendan Kennedy
@bkstar.bsky.social
· Jul 15
Ontario’s jail conditions are inhumane and disgraceful, judges say. Criminals are serving shorter sentences as a result
As the premier calls for bail reforms that would see more people locked up while awaiting trial, Ontario’s jails are “in a state of growing crisis.”
www.thestar.com
Forgive the repost, but I wanted to share once more our story on the systemic, inhumane jail conditions occurring across Ontario, and the consequences of those conditions for inmates, staff and the entire judicial system.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Maplehurst inmate abuse scandal led to the collapse of a murder case. Now, other serious criminal charges will likely be tossed.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has remained conspicuously silent.
On the fallout from Justice Conlan's decision:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has remained conspicuously silent.
On the fallout from Justice Conlan's decision:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Maplehurst inmate abuse scandal led to the collapse of a murder case. Now, other ‘serious’ criminal charges will likely be tossed
The Ford government, which has been largely silent on the jail staff's conduct, had a “serious lack of proper oversight" over Maplehurst, judge said.
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Maplehurst inmate abuse scandal led to the collapse of a murder case. Now, other serious criminal charges will likely be tossed.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has remained conspicuously silent.
On the fallout from Justice Conlan's decision:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has remained conspicuously silent.
On the fallout from Justice Conlan's decision:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
I would read Anna write about watching grass grow, so I highly recommend her fascinating - and funny! - piece on her latest attempt to overcome treatment-resistant depression: deep brain stimulation. Great presentation, too.
I got experimental brain surgery. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Could a device implanted in my brain cure my depression? I was ready to find out
Over the past 14 years, I’ve often fantasized about some scan revealing the locus of my mood disorder. Now, we were as close as we’d likely ever get
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I would read Anna write about watching grass grow, so I highly recommend her fascinating - and funny! - piece on her latest attempt to overcome treatment-resistant depression: deep brain stimulation. Great presentation, too.
The torturous abuse of inmates was only part of why an Ontario judge threw out 1st-degree murder charges last week. His ruling makes clear the decision was as much about the attempted coverup & how jail staff further lied in court.
I took a deeper look at those lies:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
I took a deeper look at those lies:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Inside the many lies told by Maplehurst jail officials trying to cover up the ‘torture’ of inmates
The deceit ranged from serious attempts to conceal what happened, to absurd, easily disprovable lies that left an Ontario judge stunned.
www.thestar.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The torturous abuse of inmates was only part of why an Ontario judge threw out 1st-degree murder charges last week. His ruling makes clear the decision was as much about the attempted coverup & how jail staff further lied in court.
I took a deeper look at those lies:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
I took a deeper look at those lies:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
I got experimental brain surgery. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Could a device implanted in my brain cure my depression? I was ready to find out
Over the past 14 years, I’ve often fantasized about some scan revealing the locus of my mood disorder. Now, we were as close as we’d likely ever get
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I got experimental brain surgery. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Joey Votto, writing in the @thestar.com, about the last time the Jays were here.
"My memory is of a dark living room, a wood-grained box TV & the bang of a screen door. My parents, my younger brother & I were sitting around the television with the rest of the city."
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
"My memory is of a dark living room, a wood-grained box TV & the bang of a screen door. My parents, my younger brother & I were sitting around the television with the rest of the city."
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Joey Votto: The 1993 Blue Jays changed my childhood. The 2025 team is poised to do that for a new generation
To say the early '90s Blue Jays were impactful during my life would be an understatement. It’s hard for me to see players from that roster and not become giddy
www.thestar.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Joey Votto, writing in the @thestar.com, about the last time the Jays were here.
"My memory is of a dark living room, a wood-grained box TV & the bang of a screen door. My parents, my younger brother & I were sitting around the television with the rest of the city."
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
"My memory is of a dark living room, a wood-grained box TV & the bang of a screen door. My parents, my younger brother & I were sitting around the television with the rest of the city."
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Ontario judge throws out first-degree murder charges against three former Maplehurst inmates, saying the collective punishment they suffered in jail was akin to torture, and the jail's attempts to cover up what happened amounted to egregious state misconduct.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Ontario judge throws out murder charges over Maplehurst jail guards’ abuse of inmates and attempted coverup. ‘The unthinkable has come to pass.’
The stay of murder charges marks the most serious consequence of the prisoner abuse scandal, which continues to imperil criminal cases across Ontario.
www.thestar.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Ontario judge throws out first-degree murder charges against three former Maplehurst inmates, saying the collective punishment they suffered in jail was akin to torture, and the jail's attempts to cover up what happened amounted to egregious state misconduct.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
A thread of recent @thetrillium.bsky.social reporting on the Skills Development Fund. #onpoli
October 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
A thread of recent @thetrillium.bsky.social reporting on the Skills Development Fund. #onpoli
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
Canada's government presented no evidence justifying making bail harder to get in its briefing today. @cancivlib.bsky.social's Shakir Rahim says the data isn't there.
October 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Canada's government presented no evidence justifying making bail harder to get in its briefing today. @cancivlib.bsky.social's Shakir Rahim says the data isn't there.
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
NEW: ‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson
www.thetrillium.ca
October 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
NEW: ‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
Statement from the president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Egypt:
“It is unprecedented that Canadian media be entirely excluded from a Canadian prime minister’s foreign trip.”
“It is unprecedented that Canadian media be entirely excluded from a Canadian prime minister’s foreign trip.”
October 15, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Statement from the president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Egypt:
“It is unprecedented that Canadian media be entirely excluded from a Canadian prime minister’s foreign trip.”
“It is unprecedented that Canadian media be entirely excluded from a Canadian prime minister’s foreign trip.”
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
ICYMI: Months before he was labour minister, David Piccini was in Leafs glass seats with a director of a company he later granted $7.5M to.
Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of the company’s lobbyist.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
#onpoli
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of the company’s lobbyist.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
#onpoli
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Labour minister was in Leafs glass seats with director of company he granted funding to
The ‘lower-scoring’ company got $7.5M of tax dollars through David Piccini’s office and is a client of the lobbyist whose Parisian wedding the minister recently attended
www.thetrillium.ca
October 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
ICYMI: Months before he was labour minister, David Piccini was in Leafs glass seats with a director of a company he later granted $7.5M to.
Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of the company’s lobbyist.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
#onpoli
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of the company’s lobbyist.
From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social.
#onpoli
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Forgive the repost, but I wanted to share once more our story on the systemic, inhumane jail conditions occurring across Ontario, and the consequences of those conditions for inmates, staff and the entire judicial system.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Ontario’s jail conditions are inhumane and disgraceful, judges say. Criminals are serving shorter sentences as a result
As the premier calls for bail reforms that would see more people locked up while awaiting trial, Ontario’s jails are “in a state of growing crisis.”
www.thestar.com
July 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Forgive the repost, but I wanted to share once more our story on the systemic, inhumane jail conditions occurring across Ontario, and the consequences of those conditions for inmates, staff and the entire judicial system.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Most of my reporting on jail conditions this year has focused on Maplehurst in Milton. But the dysfunction in Ontario's jails is system-wide. Today's story shows how the inhumane conditions across the province impact staff, inmates & the judicial system as a whole. www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Ontario’s jail conditions are inhumane and disgraceful, judges say. Criminals are serving shorter sentences as a result
As the premier calls for bail reforms that would see more people locked up while awaiting trial, Ontario’s jails are “in a state of growing crisis.”
www.thestar.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Most of my reporting on jail conditions this year has focused on Maplehurst in Milton. But the dysfunction in Ontario's jails is system-wide. Today's story shows how the inhumane conditions across the province impact staff, inmates & the judicial system as a whole. www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
This morning at 8 am, my child's teacher told me it was already 33 C inside the classroom. Members of the Ontario government have air conditioning in their offices, yet they're not doing basic repairs in Toronto schools, let alone protecting our kids from extreme heat. thelocal.to/ontario-educ...
Province Invests $1.3 Billion in New Schools—Just Not in Toronto | The Local
The Tories will fund 45 school building projects across the province—and not a single one in the TDSB, the biggest board in the province. Critics say the opaque process puts politics over students.
thelocal.to
June 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM
This morning at 8 am, my child's teacher told me it was already 33 C inside the classroom. Members of the Ontario government have air conditioning in their offices, yet they're not doing basic repairs in Toronto schools, let alone protecting our kids from extreme heat. thelocal.to/ontario-educ...
"Since January alone, the organization said it has relocated to Canada 70 queer refugees who were originally bound for the United States."
@thestar.com's Nathan Bawaan on Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...
@thestar.com's Nathan Bawaan on Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...
How this Toronto organization is helping LGBTQ refugees avoid the U.S.
Rainbow Railroad, a global non-profit based in Toronto dedicated to support persecuted LGBTQ people, says it relocated 300 queer refugees last year.
www.thestar.com
June 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
"Since January alone, the organization said it has relocated to Canada 70 queer refugees who were originally bound for the United States."
@thestar.com's Nathan Bawaan on Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...
@thestar.com's Nathan Bawaan on Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
Gabor Mate for the Star: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Gabor Maté: What is happening in Gaza is an injury to our collective conscience. We must be allowed to speak out
It is the issue of our time. Silence is not an option.
www.thestar.com
June 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Gabor Mate for the Star: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
Carney government clarifies Canadian border bill’s asylum changes as critics call for complete withdrawal
Carney government clarifies Canadian border bill’s asylum changes as critics call for complete withdrawal
Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, would restrict access to asylum, expand surveillance of migrants and citizens alike, critics say.
www.thestar.com
June 18, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Carney government clarifies Canadian border bill’s asylum changes as critics call for complete withdrawal
NEW: Ontario's government is facing a slew of lawsuits, including a proposed class-action, from former Maplehurst inmates subject to a brutal collective punishment in December 2023.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Ontario government facing lawsuits from inmates over ‘unconscionable conduct’ by Maplehurst jail guards
The lawsuits mark a widening fallout from the violent incident, which has already compromised dozens of criminal prosecutions.
www.thestar.com
June 16, 2025 at 7:09 PM
NEW: Ontario's government is facing a slew of lawsuits, including a proposed class-action, from former Maplehurst inmates subject to a brutal collective punishment in December 2023.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Ontario's Ombudsman is launching a new investigation into the Ministry of the Solicitor General's response to the December 2023 collective punishment incident at Maplehurst "due to significant public concerns about transparency, accountability and inmates’ rights."
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Ontario Ombudsman to probe complaints of province’s response to Maplehurst guards’ crackdown on inmates
The latest investigation followed the Ministry of Solicitor General's two internal investigative reports that found widespread institutional failure at the jail located in Milton.
www.thestar.com
June 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Ontario's Ombudsman is launching a new investigation into the Ministry of the Solicitor General's response to the December 2023 collective punishment incident at Maplehurst "due to significant public concerns about transparency, accountability and inmates’ rights."
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Dislike!
When I left Calgary I was excited to stop having my summers ruined by wildfire smoke so much. Joke's on me I guess!
June 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Dislike!
If you have some time today to spend on in-depth reporting, great writing & fantastic presentation, spend it with this Kate Allen & Nathan Pilla story about how more workers are critically injured as the temperature rises. www.thestar.com/interactives...
Hot days at work can be dangerous — even deadly. The Ford government said it would protect workers. But here’s what’s happening
An analysis of 13 years of critical injury data obtained by the Star shows heat poses a growing threat
www.thestar.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
If you have some time today to spend on in-depth reporting, great writing & fantastic presentation, spend it with this Kate Allen & Nathan Pilla story about how more workers are critically injured as the temperature rises. www.thestar.com/interactives...
NEW: Hours of audio and video evidence is missing from Maplehurst's crackdown on inmates in December 2023.
The missing footage, which some jail staff allege was purposely destroyed, has fueled calls for a public inquiry into the violent incident.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The missing footage, which some jail staff allege was purposely destroyed, has fueled calls for a public inquiry into the violent incident.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Hours of audio and video evidence is missing from Maplehurst guards’ crackdown on inmates
The missing footage, which some jail staff allege was purposely destroyed, has fueled calls for a public inquiry into the violent incident.
www.thestar.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
NEW: Hours of audio and video evidence is missing from Maplehurst's crackdown on inmates in December 2023.
The missing footage, which some jail staff allege was purposely destroyed, has fueled calls for a public inquiry into the violent incident.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The missing footage, which some jail staff allege was purposely destroyed, has fueled calls for a public inquiry into the violent incident.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Our latest on the Maplehurst scandal focuses on the number of criminal prosecutions that have been compromised by the mass strip search and collective punishment of inmates, who are receiving reduced sentences or other judicial remedies because the jail violated their Charter rights.
#StarExclusive: A murder. Alleged human trafficking. Drugs.
More than 30 criminal prosecutions have been compromised by the violent crackdown of prisoners at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in December 2023.
More than 30 criminal prosecutions have been compromised by the violent crackdown of prisoners at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in December 2023.
A murder. Alleged human trafficking. Drugs. These are the cases that have been compromised by inmate abuse by Maplehurst guards
This is the first accounting of the scale of the disruption to the justice system caused by the violent crackdown at the Ontario jail.
www.thestar.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Our latest on the Maplehurst scandal focuses on the number of criminal prosecutions that have been compromised by the mass strip search and collective punishment of inmates, who are receiving reduced sentences or other judicial remedies because the jail violated their Charter rights.
NEW: We obtained the province's internal investigations into the Dec 2023 crackdown on inmates at Maplehurst jail. The reports show widespread institutional failure, from the supt to rank-and-file guards. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner didn't respond to questions.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
‘Code of silence’: Jail guards broke rules, then misled investigators probing crackdown on Maplehurst inmates, internal reports show
The ministry launched its investigation into the violent incident one day after the Star sent questions about it to Ontario’s solicitor general.
www.thestar.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
NEW: We obtained the province's internal investigations into the Dec 2023 crackdown on inmates at Maplehurst jail. The reports show widespread institutional failure, from the supt to rank-and-file guards. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner didn't respond to questions.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Brendan Kennedy
"Trump is welcoming white South Africans after suspending the program for everyone else, including other Africans who have waited in refugee camps for years and were vetted and cleared, and Afghans who supported the U.S. war in their country."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/u...
The Road to Trump’s Embrace of White South Africans
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:06 PM
"Trump is welcoming white South Africans after suspending the program for everyone else, including other Africans who have waited in refugee camps for years and were vetted and cleared, and Afghans who supported the U.S. war in their country."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/u...