As we near the date for the passing of the Harper government’s omnibus crime bill, I have been alarmed at the lack of conversation over this draconian bill.
Why would anyone support this government’s increased use of incarceration to the point where the crowded conditions are a ‘recipe for disaster’ even when, statistically, our crime rate is going down? Incarceration is not an effective way either to deter crime or rehabilitate the convicted.
Yes there are parts of the bill which many would agree with: the Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Act, Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, Penalties for Organized Drug Crime. There are others in this list but there are other harsh inhuman outcomes to the bill.
The proposed bill is made up of 11 pieces of legislation. It includes: increased imprisonment for youth, increase use of mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of certain drug crimes. If you have a plant of two in your garden, be very afraid.
Since taking office in 2006, this federal government under Stephen Harper has introduced many pieces of legislation that have increased the rates of incarceration and the length of prison sentences. He has done this by increasing the use of mandatory minimum sentences, reducing options for community-based sentences such as house arrest, and by eliminating early release options.
Interestingly enough, the U.S., which incarcerates more citizens per capita than any other country, is looking seriously at doing away with mandatory minimum sentencing; considering alternative such as redirecting non-violent prisoners toward other options than prison. It’s a sad day that we are being taken down the failed American path.
The cost of this bill is monumental. Prison space is expanding, brand new prisons are popping up all over the country, staff is needed, it costs in the range of $100,000 a year to incarcerate an individual. Think what could be done with that money?
Go to the source of the problems: poverty, lack of adequate housing, education, mental health issues. Aboriginals make up 20 per cent of the prison population even though they represent four per cent of Canada’s population. Bill C-10 will do nothing but increase time in jail, their visiting rights will be limited, recreational activity will be squashed, any sort of rehabilitation will be lacking. What will they be like when they finally walk among us?
Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer
Red Deer