SECU Committee Report

Supplementary Opinion of the New Democratic Party of Canada

Submitted by Don Davies, M.P.

New Democrat Critic for Public Safety and National Security

Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

The New Democratic Party of Canada strongly supports this Report and the recommendations contained herein.  We urge the government to implement the recommendations as urgently as possible, as the issues of mental illness and addictions in our federal corrections system are serious, important and pressing.  The New Democrats believe that dealing with mental health and addictions issues is a critical component to make our communities safer for everyone.

During the Committee’s study of the issues raised in this Report, we heard from many witnesses with extensive experience in the fields of mental illness and addictions, particularly as these occur within the federal corrections context.  We also travelled to many federal correctional facilities in Canada as well as those in the United Kingdom and Norway.  As New Democrat Critic for Public Safety and National Security, I have also visited and inspected additional federal prisons in Canada and Asia on my own.

During its study of this issue, the Committee consulted with and heard expert testimony from a wide array of professionals who work in the corrections field.  These experts included prison guards, parole officers, prison wardens, doctors, nurses, psychologists, staff representatives, prison chaplains, addictions specialists, organizations that work with current and former offenders, and offenders themselves. These individuals made a large number of important recommendations to the Committee.  They reflect the proposals and experience of these diverse groups, all of whom have the same general aim:  to provide better delivery of services and care for offenders suffering from mental health and addictions issues.

Although many of their recommendations were adopted in this Report, a number of important measures are not contained herein.  The testimony received by the Committee during its many hours of hearings is part of the public record, and we hope that the government and the Correctional Service of Canada will give serious consideration to implementing their suggestions where appropriate.

In particular, action needs to be taken to end the use of segregation as a method of dealing with mental illness.  While there are some laudable recommendations contained within this Report that seek to improve segregation protocol and practice, the tragic cases of Ashley Smith and other mentally-ill individuals in our federal prisons clearly show that there is an urgent need for decisive steps to eliminate the segregation of mentally-ill offenders.  The New Democrats would support more concrete and more decisive measures to end the use of segregation as a response to mentally-ill offenders.  The Committee heard evidence that segregation is harmful for all offenders, but particularly for those with mental illness.  It exacerbates unwanted behaviour, and deepens the mental illness that is present.  Instead, we need to adopt a health-based model for dealing with mentally-ill offenders that recognizes their needs for human interaction, therapy, and treatment for their illness.

New Democrats recognize the real and demonstrated connection between mental illness and addictions, and incarceration for many individuals. By taking effective steps to improve mental health treatment and recovery from addictions, we believe that many individuals will be helped and community safety will be enhanced.