March 31, 2016
National Newswatch – John Milloy
How will we know if a guaranteed annual income works?
Former Ontario cabinet minister and MPP John Milloy looks at the concept of a Guaranteed Annual Income itself and the various ways a government could implement it. Beyond the mechanics, Milloy also has some suggestions about how we could know that the GAI is in fact doing what it is supposed to do. For Milloy, the exercise would also tell us about the kind of Canada we want to have. http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/03/30/how-will-we-know-if-a-guaranteed-annual-income-works/ Related article: Toronto Star – Robert Benzie Ontarians warming to guaranteed minimum income, poll suggests http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/03/30/ontarians-warming-to-guaranteed-minimum-income-poll-suggests.html
Ottawa Citizen – Editorial (March 28, 2016)
Enough. Fix the Ottawa jail
The controversy about deplorable conditions in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre have been going back and forth between advocates, guards and ministry officials for some time. The Citizen is calling for an end to bickering and an expert group to fix the problems without any further delays. http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-enough-we-must-fix-the-ottawa-jail Related article: Ottawa Sun Christopher I. Cobb Justice system on trial as bail jails overflow http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/03/29/justice-system-on-trial-as-bail-jails-overflow
Reclaim Justice Network (UK)
Systemic Abuse of Vulnerable at Medway
This report raises some frightening potential around the custody of children when the facility is operated by private prison companies. The story is from Medway, a 76 bed facility in Kent for 12-17 year olds and has been delivered as a documentary on the BBC. What is at issue is the £36,000 per inmate cost and the competition among four such private operators for the lowest common denominator in cost, accountability and services. The articles were prompted by a BBC documentary and provide a history of incidents at the youth facility which doubles as a training facility for guards. https://downsizingcriminaljustice.wordpress.com/2016/03/29/systemic-abuse-of-vulnerable-at-medway/ Related article: The Guardian – Francis Crook The G4S-run Medway youth jail must be closed http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/12/g4s-medway-youth-jail-must-be-closed Related article: The Guardian Seven G4S staff suspended over abuse claims at youth institution http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/08/g4s-staff-young-offenders-institution-suspended-medway-kent
Globe and Mail – Carol Finlay
For indigenous women, prisons are the adult version of residential schools
Finlay is an Anglican priest who started a book reading club – Book Club for Inmates – seven years ago in Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston. She has noticed some changes over that time in the way that Corrections Canada treats the inmates. Her ministry, she says, is freeing the minds of the inmates. The time spent in the prisons has also allowed her to notice the disproportionality of Indigenous women in jail. “Our prisons are a continuation of the harm done to indigenous peoples through the residential schools.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/for-indigenous-women-prisons-are-the-adult-version-of-residential-schools/article29388499/ Related article: Globe and Mail – Laura Stone Prison watchdog encouraged by Ottawa’s aboriginal pledge http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/prison-watchdog-encouraged-by-ottawas-aboriginal-pledge/article29412979/
CBC News (US News)
War on drugs harmed public health – 3 decades of the war on drugs had no measurable impact on supply or use
There is something about declaring war on anything and certainly when it comes to a war on drugs. But this report is insisting that the war on drugs has harmed the public health of Canadians rather than helped since there is no discernable impact on use or supply. The report looks at Portugal, Russia and Mexico to illustrate its conclusions. http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/drug-war-public-health-1.3504843 Full Report: The Lancet Commissions (www.thelancet.com ) Public health and international drug policy http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00619-X
CBC News –
Calls for Good Samaritan law renewed after overdose victim’s body dumped – David Lojk received 5 1/2 years in prison for committing indignity to a human body
David Lojk had a guest in his apartment who overdosed on suspected MDMA and cocaine. No one did anything to get emergency or medical help and instead they watched his condition obviously deteriorate over a full day and then dumped the body in a creek near Kemptville, outside Ottawa. Estimates are that overdose cases get medical attention only in 50% of the incidents, mostly for fear that calling police means charges for drug possession. The Good Samaritan would include exemption for simple possession. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lojk-good-samaritan-law-calls-1.3507438