SECU Committee Report

The Parole Board of Canada and the Circumstances that

Led to a Young Woman’s Death

Supplementary Report of the New Democratic Party

New Democrats support the report and make the following recommendations.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada encourage the Parole Board of Canada and the Correctional Service Canada to complete annual performance reviews of Parole Board members and Parole Officers respectively.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada review best practices for corrections and parole in other countries.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada encourage Correctional Service Canada to increase the number of Parole Officers in the community, to review and improve Parole Officer training and oversight to ensure they can effectively manage their caseloads, to pay Parole Officers when they are required to work overtime and to ensure that Parole Officers are adequately replaced when on leave; and that the Government of Canada ensure that Correctional Service Canada has the appropriate funding to do so by reallocation of resources of otherwise.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada prioritize the 5-year review of the Canadian Victim Bill of Rights.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada fully decriminalize sex work in Canada.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada encourage Correctional Service Canada and the Parole Board of Canada to develop mandatory training for Parole Officers and Parole Board Members on domestic and intimate partner violence, in consultation with sex workers and women and gender rights organizations.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada encourage the Correctional Service Canada and Parole Board of Canada to conduct reviews of all policies and practices to ensure that they are in compliance with the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada implement all recommendations found in the Correctional Service of Canada – Parole Board of Canada National Joint Board of Investigation report into the release and supervision of an offender on day parole charged in relation to a serious incident in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on January 23, 2020.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada establish a fully independent review of the circumstances that led to Marylène Lévesque’s death.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada encourage Correctional Service Canada to review and enhance vocational programming for inmates in federal prisons, to ensure that training is appropriate to the needs and abilities of inmates.

Recommendations 11

That the Government of Canada expedite a review of the Criminal Records Act with a view to provide expungement of criminal records for all cannabis possession offenses, which would relieve Parole Board of Canada of any responsibilities in this area.