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Results: 61 - 75 of 488
View Tako Van Popta Profile
CPC (BC)
Thank you for that.
The structured intervention units program requires meaningful human contact for a certain period of time every day. My question is whether there is any agreement about what “meaningful human contact” means and whether the inmate's opinion counts for anything in coming to that definition.
Anthony Doob
View Anthony Doob Profile
Anthony Doob
2021-06-21 16:13
I think the answer to that is fairly simple. We used the definition that the Correctional Service of Canada does for those activities. It is very broad and very vague. When we did that, using CSC's own assessment as to whether time out of cell was meaningful human activity, we found that they were not meeting the criteria outlined in the legislation.
The question, I think, is a very important one, but it would be more important if people were getting their meaningful human contact in a majority of cases. Then I think we would quite properly want to look to see what that consisted of. The problem for Jane Sprott and me is that we're dealing with administrative data. We're taking their story, CSC's assessment, at face value. Even taking it at face value, they are falling far short of what they are supposed to be doing, so—
View Pam Damoff Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Chair.
To all of our witnesses, thank you for all the work that you do. UCCO and USJE, I would like to thank you for the work you are doing in our institutions. The men and women who work in our prisons do fine work.
However, Mr. Wilkins, I will say that I visited Edmonton max. I had a tour of one of the cells. UCCO was present when I visited. There were no TVs or PlayStations. I was told that they were not even allowed books because of suicide risks. I just want to clarify what I saw at Edmonton max.
I just finished listening to a podcast called Life Jolt , about women at Grand Valley. One of the women who had returned to prison was put in segregation because she was going through drug withdrawal. That's not the right place for people. Now, I will tell you that I worked on Bill C-83. I was actually the one who introduced the amendment for an independent external decision-maker. I was extremely hopeful that things would work, and Dr. Doob and Professor Sprott, thank you for the work you are doing. I do still think we can get there.
My question—I have only four minutes—is actually for the Elizabeth Fry organization.
Emilie, could you give us recommendations concerning sexual violence in the prisons? It's something that you've done a report on. We know that there is a zero tolerance policy at CSC, but it is still happening. Could you perhaps tell us both what we need to do legislatively and also what the commissioner can do without legislation?
Emilie Coyle
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Emilie Coyle
2021-06-21 16:16
Thank you for that question.
I think a zero-tolerance policy is aspirational and not what is happening in practice. I think that goes with most of the comments about what happens in prisons, especially if you're coming from the lens of what's happening at headquarters versus what's actually happening in the prisons.
We really have to take that into consideration when we hear from people about what's happening in the prisons. Who are you actually hearing from? Are you hearing from someone who thinks this is how it's supposed to look and this is what the legislation is and these are the rules? How is it actually happening on the ground, practically speaking?
Emilie Coyle
View Emilie Coyle Profile
Emilie Coyle
2021-06-21 16:16
Okay, I'm trying really hard to get there, but I think that's an important piece for us to remember going into these discussions.
First of all, I think there needs to be—and this is really important when it comes to sexual violence and coercion perpetrated by staff on prisoners—an independent public inquiry, because we don't have enough information about what's happening and we need that information.
The second thing we can do is to stop strip searching, which is state-sanctioned violence. We don't need it. We can stop it right now. It isn't serving its purpose at all.
The third thing that I would recommend is to have access to outside mental health counselling for anyone who wants to come forward with allegations of sexual assault. They won't trust Correctional Service of Canada staff. They need to have outside mental health counselling.
I think those are the three most important points.
View Pam Damoff Profile
Lib. (ON)
Emilie, can those things be done by the commissioner, or do we need legislation to do them?
I guess I'm asking what we can act on tomorrow.
Emilie Coyle
View Emilie Coyle Profile
Emilie Coyle
2021-06-21 16:17
On strip searching, the legislation that exists has very permissive language. It says it “may” happen. It doesn't say that strip searches have to happen. That's something that can be done relatively easily, without legislation. I think that would be the one I would look to. I wouldn't want it replaced with something that would be equally as invasive or—
View Pam Damoff Profile
Lib. (ON)
Sorry. Really quickly, in 2008, there were 800 people in segregation. There are 190 now, which is still too many. There are very few women. Do you know how many there are in SIUs right now? At one point it was about five.
Emilie Coyle
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Emilie Coyle
2021-06-21 16:18
It changes all the time. In fact, we were at a meeting with the Correctional Service of Canada about SIUs last week, and the number of people in the SIUs changed from Thursday to Friday, so I actually don't know that number at the moment.
View Kristina Michaud Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Of course, I started with the COVID‑19 situation in federal prisons, because that's what has been in the news this year.
However, there's another extremely disturbing situation, which is part of the motion that was introduced: the reports of sexual coercion and violence in federal prisons. The Correctional Investigator of Canada's report was quite clear. He pointed out that there is a genuine culture of silence. He clearly said that this issue is never, or almost never, discussed in the public eye. I wonder why that is.
My question is for Mr. Wilkins of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers and any other witnesses who have something to say about this culture of silence. What needs to be done to talk more about it and find solutions?
I invite the witnesses to respond to my question.
Jeff Wilkins
View Jeff Wilkins Profile
Jeff Wilkins
2021-06-21 16:19
In reviewing the correctional investigator's report, I noted it talks about inmate-on-inmate sexual violence. Of course, this is something that has happened throughout the history of time. I'm sure that growing up we have all seen memes like “don't drop the soap in the shower if you go to prison”. Of course, this is something that has been a reality for longer than my career. I also noted in that correctional investigator's report that there was one instance of reported sexual assault from a staff member in a span of four or five years.
We certainly do not condone any type of sexual abuse or coercion from any staff member towards an inmate, but the focus here is on how you can put a stop to it inside of the institutions, and—
View Matthew Green Profile
NDP (ON)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Under the basic principles, rule 1 of the Mandela rules talks about how “All prisoners shall be treated with respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings.” Rule 2 is that “The present rules shall be applied impartially” and “There shall be no discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion” and so on.
However, in testimony, Mr. Doob expressed that Black inmates are subjected to this cruel and unusual punishment—this torture of solitary confinement—for longer periods of time.
If I can get one thing out of this committee, through you, Mr. Chair, to Mr. Doob, what remedy would you have to help dismantle the inherent anti-Black racism within this regime?
Anthony Doob
View Anthony Doob Profile
Anthony Doob
2021-06-21 16:21
I don't have a simple answer to that question. The problem is that we're dealing with a description that CSC has given us. We can identify the problem, but I don't have simple solutions to suggest to you.
I think that the first thing that needs to be done on all of these matters is that CSC has to acknowledge the fact that they exist there and work toward changing the situation.
I do have a suggestion—
View Matthew Green Profile
NDP (ON)
With specificity, would it be to acknowledge the inherent anti-Black racism in the extended period of time they're given in detainment?
Results: 61 - 75 of 488 | Page: 5 of 33

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