Vic Toews and the League of Imaginary Crime Fighters

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-ruzsa/vic-toews-crime-rate_b_1734062.html So this is rich: the Conservatives are taking credit for the falling crime rate. On July 24, after Statistics Canada reported that police-reported crime was at its lowest level in 40 years, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews tweeted “Crime rate down 6% – shows CPC tough on crime is working. Rate is still … Continue reading →

Crime Doesn’t Deter Tories – Nor Do Facts

by Joan Ruzsa Huffington Post July 16th, 2012 There’s something I don’t understand about us humans. We can cure disease, explore outer space, access information from around the world in a split second and discover the God particle, and yet the best idea we have come up with to respond to crime and social harm … Continue reading →

End the Prison Industrial Complex (EPIC)

EPIC is an abolitionist organization based in Kingston, ON. This post from EPIC’s blog talks about the companies that will be profiting from new prison construction (and additions to existing prisons) in Canada. It’s important to know which corporations are profiting from building new prisons, because they are making their living from the misery of … Continue reading →

Are the Provinces and Territories Ready for an Influx of New Prisoners?

This post, from Justin Piché’s blog, “Tracking the Politics of Crime and Punishment in Canada”, discusses Piché’s research into the government’s prison expansion initiatives, as well as the locations and status of the proposed prison construction. http://tpcp-canada.blogspot.com/2011/09/are-provinces-and-territories-ready-for.html Continue reading →

Distrust everyone in whom the impulse to punish is powerful

by Mountain River Mountain River has been a prisoner for almost 3 decades, and has been a witness to the cyclical nature of the justice system. _______________________________________________________________ “Distrust everyone in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.” Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) We want to address the issue of Harper and his bent for vengeance. Mr. Harper … Continue reading →

Liberals ask budget watchdog to estimate cost of Tory crime bill

Liberals ask budget watchdog to estimate cost of Tory crime bill from Canada.com:  Politics and the Nation – Postmedia News Written by Andrew Mayeda ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Liberals have asked Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page to review the costs of another crime bill introduced by the Harper government. The bill, known officially as An Act to … Continue reading →

Prisoners’ Justice Week

Are you furious about the arrest and detainment of over 900 people during the G20 weekend in June? Are you angry about the detention and detainment of ten of thousands every year in immigration detention centres in the city? Want to end forced incarceration of people with disabilities in provinicial institutions, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities … Continue reading →

Canada’s Inhumane Prison Plan

Conrad Black’s surprisingly progressive analysis of the Conservative government/Correctional Service of Canada’s inaccurately titled “Roadmap to Strengthening Community Safety, from the National Post on Friday, May 28th. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “This Roadmap–which was released in 2007, and which the Harper government began officially responding to in its budget in 2008, setting out a five-year plan — turns … Continue reading →

June 12th Prisoners’ Justice Community Meeting

Please circulate widely . . . On February 27th, 2010, and then again on April 17th, a group of over 50 people came together to create a coalition that is committed to creating community justice.  The group consists of people from different backgrounds and disparate areas of expertise, but we are all united to find … Continue reading →

Burgeoning prison budgets spared the axe

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/burgeoning-prison-budgets-spared-the-axe/article1515105/?service=email. By Bill Curry Globe and Mail March 29, 2010 As Ottawa sets deep cuts for public service, Corrections Canada goes on a hiring spree Ottawa will spend more money on federal prisons in coming years – a rare exception to government-wide restraint and a sharp contrast to efforts by cash-strapped American states to save … Continue reading →