NDP announces Bill to bring accountability and community safety to Ontario corrections system

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP Shadow Attorney General Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre) announced their new Bill to bring community safety, transparency, and accountability to Ontario’s broken corrections system.

The Bill will be tabled when the Legislature returns next week, and calls on the Ford government to:

• Make the Ontario Solicitor General present a timeline to implement the 2018 Corrections Services Transformation Act.
• Strengthen whistleblower protections for corrections workers.
• Establish regular online reporting about overcrowding in Ontario correctional facilities.
• Better empower the Inspector General that the 2018 Act created to investigate complaints, compel evidence about how management and the Solicitor General ignore requests from frontline staff, and make recommendations to hold the Solicitor General and his managers accountable for the conditions in Ontario’s correctional facilities.

"These significant provisions have simply not been proclaimed in force — something the government could do today,” said Wong-Tam. “We are tabling this Bill to put pressure on the government to make this change before the 2018 Bill sunsets at the 10-year mark, and to fix gaps left by the Ontario Liberals by adding substantial new protections for workers who act as whistleblowers in the correctional system.

“Overcrowded and dangerous jails have led serious charges — including murder — to be thrown out. The Ford government can make our communities safer by passing our Bill, and fixing this crumbling system."

"This is not a partisan issue. It affects all of us,” said Yusuf Faqiri, brother of the late Soleiman Faqiri. "This Bill is an opportunity for us to make a commitment to saving the lives of the most vulnerable, and providing real, concrete solutions to improve safety in Ontario.”

"Conditions in Ontario’s jails and prisons have never been worse,” said Emilie Coyle, co-Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies. “Overcrowding, prolonged and routine lockdowns, and a lack of access to both physical and mental health care are now very standard conditions of confinement in Ontario's jails and prisons. Having another level of accountability is really important."