……WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT?
Well yes, if it’s what their constituents want to hear.  Facts, studies and science rate low in the pursuit of votes.

One of our federal political parties always drags out “crime” during election campaigns.  Statistical variances don’t matter; “crime” is forever an issue only this party can address.  Not only that, but in practice this political party, when given an opportunity to govern, also intentionally strangles the few resources for rehabilitation that our underfunded federal prison industry has.  This guarantees the stability in the numbers of offenders in custody which secures the gratitude of Correctional Service of Canada and its 20,000 employees and assures the public that the government is doing something about “crime.”

Weird.

Two Members of our Parliament recently commented on one facet of their perspective in dealing with “crime.”
They needed a reality check.

First, there was……

October 28, 2024

The Honourable Pierre Poilievre,
House of Commons,
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6

Re:      Common sense, my butt!

Mr. Poilievre:

Two points only:-

“Axe the Tax” puts you in a dark place, unless you have something to replace it.  Just what is your plan to fight the impact of climate change?  After all, it’s the biggest threat we face.

Also, you want to force drug-addicted prisoners into rehab?  Really?  At about the same time you announced that, I got a report from Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert that a sign posted at the entrance to its health care unit read that the wait time to see a psychiatrist was 10 to 15 months!  Not unusual in our prisons.

The institution mounted that sign as so many inmates want help and can’t get it.  And mental health intervention is a part of rehab.  As it is, waiting months to see a psychiatrist gets an offender perhaps as much as a 15-minute telephone appointment plus a drug prescription to mask symptoms.  No counselling.  No remedy.

The same is the case for our federal prison industry’s drug treatment program.  Correctional Service of Canada only maintains an inmate’s OUD with drugs, usually methadone or suboxone.  The necessary counselling to treat core issues is a part of CSC policy but it isn’t available in the general population

Common sense.  You’ll have to do better.

Charles H. Klassen

And, then came…..

January 10, 2025

Raquel Dancho, MP,
House of Commons,
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6

Re:      Federal prison needle exchange program

MP Dancho:

I’ve attached a copy of my October 28, 2024, letter to your leader, Pierre Poilievre.

Now, please reference the Monday, December 16, 2024, Globe and Mail where it was reported that you “said in a statement that her party opposes the program.  Inmates should be placed into drug treatment programs rather than being provided with needles.”  This article noted that a study of the prison needle programs save money but are underused.

Prison guards make the life of needle exchange program participants miserable; that’s why relatively few inmates are involved.  No matter the drug, needles or not, addicted inmates would line up in scores for treatment programs, if they were available.

Don’t let Anne Kelly hoodwink you.  Programs are not available.

Are you willing to support the considerable costs for providing what is needed?  Would your Conservative Party back you?

I wonder.

Charles H. Klassen

What should we call people who use people as bait to hook their neighbours?

What Hiatus?
Yes, there’s been a long gap between postings. The work slowed but didn’t stop.
We’re back!