Saturday, January 29, 2011

Prison Farm issue is still alive.



I've recently received information from Prison Farm supporters in Kingston:  Here's the message:


Hello, prison farm supporters,
Next Wednesday, Feb. 2, MPs will be voting on the Public Safety Committee's motion to halt dismantling the prison farm program, conduct an independent review of the program and report back to Parliament.
Leading up to the vote and in order to witness the vote, we are planning events and actions described below. Please participate in as many of these actions as possible to keep up the pressure on the Conservative government to reverse its wrong-headed prison agenda.
We hope a strong show of support for the prison farms will result in a victory on this vote.
Remember, we live in hope...


Four of the things they're planning are:


  1. Write to MPs (particularly your own MP), and ask friends and family across Canada to write to their MP (especially if the MP is Conservative);
  2. Monday, Jan. 31, at 9 am -- demonstration at the entrance to Frontenac Institution;
  3. Monday night vigil at Frontenac Institution;
  4. Wednesday, Feb. 2 -- bus trip to Ottawa to witness the vote on the prison farm motion.
Now, unless you live in Kingston, the last three will be difficult, but you can write to your MP.  Given the timeframe, a fax or a phone call would be better.

For Lethbridge people, here's the information for Rick Casson:
Ottawa:
Tel: (613) 996-0633
Fax: (613) 995-5752

Lethbridge
Tel: (403) 320-0070
Fax: (403) 380-4026
255 - 8th Street South
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1J 4Y1

For other MPs:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsAddressList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

Here's a sample letter:



To my Honourable Member of Parliament,
On February 2, you will be asked to vote on the prison farm issue.  A favourable vote will place a moratorium on further dismantling of Canada's six internationally-recognized prison farms, until an independent study researching the value of the farm program is completed and communicated to Parliament, allowing for a constructive dialogue on the provision of rehabilitation for inmates.  
I believe that the prison farm program operated by Correctional Service of Canada offered an effective rehabilitation and training program for inmates (in addition to providing food for the prison system).  In polls conducted by the CBC and the Globe and Mail, over 90 percent of Canadians voted to retain the prison farm program.
I understand that this will be a free vote, and trust that you will vote for Canadian values of democracy and rehabilitation, and endorse the value of farming in Canada.  As my representative, I ask that you vote as you should — representing your constituents.
On February 2, please vote to save Canada’s prison farms -- and demonstrate that you are listening to the vast majority of Canadians that believe that providing constructive rehabilitation for inmates increases public safety.  It is time to be smart on crime.
In peace, respect and friendship,

FInally, here are some links to articles about the issue:

  1. Mauri restorative justice    http://www.sfu.ca/~palys/Tauri%20chapter%20on%20Maori%20the%20CJS.pdf 
  2. Coalition of churches condemns Ottawa's justice plans    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-of-churches-condemns-ottawas-justice-plan/article1884171/
  3. Why Canada' prisons can't cope with flood of mentally ill inmates    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-canadas-prisons-cant-cope-with-flood-of-mentally-ill-inmates/article1879501/
  4. Article from The Nation on ending the war on crime    http://www.thenation.com/article/end-war-crime 
  5. Newt Gingrich's column opposing prison expansions in the US    http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/article_0f359876-c028-5269-9c47-4df21f3ddf4c.html
  6. Editorial in The Star opposing expanding prisons (relates to the Newt Gingrich column)    http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/922295--expanding-prisons-getting-it-right-on-crime





















Sunday, January 2, 2011

Why doesn't PM work to bring about good legislation?

Editor:

Re Harper vows no election (Dec. 18, 2010). Although your story says Stephen Harper will not call or provoke an election in 2011, he clearly wants to set the stage to blame opposition parties for this kind of speculation as it said later on in your article.

This news story, however, caused me to pause and think: If Stephen Harper does not want an election, why doesn’t he work with the opposition parties to bring good legislation to Canadians?

Consider: although Harper has been Prime Minister for almost five years, he and his government have not accomplished a whole lot in that time. For example, they have brought approximately 60 bills into the House of Commons since it reconvened last March. But about half were leftovers from the previous session--they had to be brought up again because Harper prorogued parliament (for a second time!) in December 2009 to avoid the questions about Afghan detainees. According to the Québec newspaper, Le Devoir, of the 60, only 11 bills have been passed, which is why Le Devoir concluded that “2010 was a total waste on the legislative front.”

Looking deeper, if Harper wants to keep governing with a minority, why does he keep offending the opposition parties and the sensibilities of over 60% of Canadians? Canceling the long-form census? Closing prison farms? Abusing Veterans and only giving in when the Veterans take to the streets? Publishing a handbook for Conservatives to disrupt parliamentary committees? Continuously assaulting women’s rights? Canceling anti-smoking messages recommended by Health Canada? Bringing in an Omnibus budget bill with irrelevant, environment-threatening sections? Ignoring police advice on firearms? And this is a shortened list. Further, most of these actions have been taken without debate in Parliament. If he wants to continue it’s because he can continue to do things outside parliament especially now that he controls the Senate.

Harper is, according to a recent book about him (Harperland, by Lawrence Martin), the consummate political strategist whose choice is always to smash the opposition rather than bring good policy to Canadians. Let’s hope an election can rid Canada of this style of leadership!

________
Mark Sandilands
NDP Candidate, Lethbridge Federal Riding