SECU Committee Report

2012-04-10

DISSENTING OPINION OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA

The report: Drugs and Alcohol in Federal Penitentiaries: an Alarming Problem, is fundamentally flawed and fails to adequately represent the testimony heard at committee in a fair manner. Critical information is missing and as a result many of the conclusions and recommendations are incomplete or insufficient, for this reason New Democrat members of the Public Safety Committee have submitted this dissenting opinion.

Rather than pursuing an honest and evidence-based approach to the study, Conservative members of this committee chose to misuse this study to pursue narrow political goals. Conservative members consistently appeared preoccupied with justifying the expansion of unproven interdiction technology, while ignoring evidence that pursuing legitimate, proven policies to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol in prisons, including rehabilitation programming, may have a greater impact.

The most startling example of the information missing from this report is the failure to note evidence that clearly demonstrated $122 million dollars of Conservative spending on interdiction tools and technology since 2008 has not led to any reduction in drug use in prisons. The Commissioner of Correctional Services Canada (CSC), Mr. Don Head, admitted at meeting number 16 on December 1, 2011, that this spending has been largely ineffective according to the CSC’s own report on drug-testing, but this information is not reflected anywhere in the committee’s report.

Of significant concern is the appearance that the Committee’s report reached a pre-determined conclusion that the solution to the problems of drugs and alcohol in prison is increasing interdiction measures.   This conclusion does not reflect the testimony that the Committee heard describing the complexity of the problem of drug and alcohol in federal prisons.  As many witnesses affirmed, a narrow focus on interdiction measures alone will not serve the purpose of reducing the use of drugs and alcohol in prisons.

New Democrats believe that the problems facing Canadian prisons, including mental illness, drug use and the spread of disease, including HIV and hepatitis, are complex and interrelated. Violence and increased population pressures, gangs and drug trafficking in prisons are as interrelated as well.  In order to move towards real solutions targeting the issue of drugs and alcohol in prisons, a balanced approach that is based on a complete understanding of the problems that exist is required.

Unfortunately, the report is missing vital context and ignores a number of evidence-based solutions suggested by witnesses, central to which was a balanced approach to addressing the issues of drugs and alcohol in prison including prevention, treatment, harm reduction and interdiction.  

Significant expert testimony to this effect was not reflected in the Committee’s final report. The CSC Commissioner and Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers agreed that completely eliminating drugs in prison is an unrealistic goal.  They expressed a desire for increased investment in education and rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism and truly increase public safety at meeting number six on October 6, 2011, yet this report does not reflect that important recommendation.

New Democrat members are committed to supporting cost-effective measures that prevent crime and improve community safety. Our priority should be a manageable corrections system that can deliver effective rehabilitation programs so that when prisoners are released they are less likely to reoffend. Unfortunately, the Conservative members on committee chose not to substantively engage with these issues, preferring an ideological approach to crime that does little to keep our streets and communities safe.