Public Safety Committee on Nov. 29th, 2018

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We're still in the same clause, dealing with the same question.

The proposed section that I seek to amend now states:in consultation with the offender, in order to ensure that they receive the most effective programs at the appropriate time during their confinement in the unit and to prepare them for reintegration into the mainstream inmate population.

My amendment adds “as soon as possible”. This stems from the United Nations Committee Against Torture. It's called on Canada to “limit the use of solitary confinement [to] a measure of last resort for as short a time as possible”.

This will require that the updates of the prisoner's correctional plan be tied to this objective of release back into the general population as quickly as possible. I hope you'll find it acceptable.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

This is the ASAP amendment.

Go ahead, Ms. Dabrusin.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

This is just to say thank you to Ms. May for bringing it. I think it's a helpful addition and I support it.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Go ahead, Mr. Motz.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

There's a gentleman by the name of Glen Brown, a retired warden and deputy warden, and I've had a conversation with him about his experience.

Officials can correct me if I'm wrong or if his assessment is wrong, but he urges that sometimes the rapid reintegration of inmates, as this entails, is not in their best interests. The current practice of preparing them for transition, as the wording said, should not be rushed. That's from a conversation with him, as someone who is in the business and has been in the business for many years.

I certainly would throw that out there. If this is all about the best interests and the rehabilitation of an inmate, then that's something we need to consider.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there further debate?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

On PV-4, go ahead, Ms. May.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to members for passing that last amendment. It's much appreciated.

Again, this is dealing with the whole question of making decisions and updating plans. This was a suggestion from Senator Pate. As we know, she has had an extraordinary career and a commitment to the Elizabeth Fry Society in advocating for women in incarceration.

The suggestion is to add the following to the bill:(2.2) The offender under subsection (2.1) whose correctional plan is to be updated shall be given an opportunity to make written representations to the institutional head before any decisions on program selection are made.

Again, this was to be in consultation with the offender, but other than being asked to sign that they've received the documentation, there is no meaningful involvement unless we add this amendment.

I would really appreciate consideration for Green Party amendment 4.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Ms. May.

Is there debate?

Go ahead, Mr. Paul-Hus.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Is this already common practice among inmates? Are they able to correspond with authorities when their programs are discussed?

[Luc Bisson]

This is already part of our practices and policies. We work with inmates to develop their plans, and we monitor their progress. That's already the case.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

All right. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any further debate?

(Amendment negatived)

(Clause 3 as amended agreed to)

(Clause 4 agreed to on division)

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I see you're training these folks well, Mr. Paul-Hus.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I'll put my lens on now.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You can actually see your amendments.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

You will see when we get to amendment CPC-2 that I have to do it because he couldn't read it. It's his new glasses. He's getting used to them.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm pleased to hear that the Conservatives can now see where they are going.

We're on clause 5 and amendment PV-5.

Go ahead, Ms. May.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This one would apply when a registered health professional believes that a prisoner's death was due to natural causes and the natural cause is a chronic illness.

The amendment I'm proposing would require that health care professional to consider lifestyle changes or habits that could have managed that illness, in, for example, an illness like diabetes, and the extent to which lifestyle changes were restricted as a result of being confined in the unit. Again this comes from a recommendation from Senator Pate.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any debate?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We're on amendment PV-6.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you. Mr. Chair, we're still in—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Sorry for that. I have to ask whether clause 5 carries.

(Clause 5 agreed to on division)

(On clause 6)

We are now on clause 6.

On amendment PV-6, go ahead, Ms. May.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you.

Again, I think the committee was already guided by this notion that we changed with the first amendment that was carried after it was amended. This reintroduces language of least restrictive measures, also present in Bill C-56. It was formerly in the “principles” section of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

The amendment says that if a person is to be confined, the Correctional Service shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the penitentiary in which they are confined is one that provides them with the least restrictive environment for that person.

That amendment achieves a goal that is quite similar to that of the first one that the committee just accepted.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay.

Go ahead, Ms. Damoff.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I just want to thank my friend from Saanich—Gulf Islands. That's an excellent amendment, and we'll be happy to support it.