Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jan 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Tanya Talaga
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

FEDERAL OMNIBUS CRIME BILL TO COST ONTARIO $1 BILLION, PROVINCE SAYS

Ottawa is stiffing Ontario with the $1 billion cost of implementing 
sweeping crime changes, the provincial government says.

The new federal omnibus crime legislation will add another 1,500 
prisoners in the corrections system, force the building of another 
prison and put pressure on parole officers, according to the ministry 
of community safety and correctional services. Bill C-10 received 
third reading in Parliament last month and is now before the Senate.

Prisons are already crowded and operating at 95 per cent capacity 
with 8,500 inmates, said Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur.

And the cost of a new prison is about $900 million and operating the 
facility would be another $60 million a year, she said, adding 
Ontario can't afford to pay for the federal Conservative crime bill.

"Let's be very clear," she told the Star. "My government believes in 
community safety and crime prevention. But it is just unacceptable 
that Ontarians are expected to bear the costs of federal anti-crime 
initiatives. They are tough on crime but aren't willing to pay for 
their tough talk."

The omnibus federal crime bill combines nine previous pieces of 
legislation into one and some critics say it will make fundamental 
changes to the entire justice system. The bill includes tougher 
sentences on child sexual predators and introduces mandatory minimum 
sentences for some drug crimes.

The changes will create serious pressure in the justice system for 
police officers who'll have to spend more time in court, parole 
workers and correctional staff, said Meilleur.

Some jails will be so overcrowded they could be operating at nearly 
150 per cent capacity and another 1,000 people could be placed on 
parole, she said.

But reforming the justice and corrections system, not simply putting 
more people in jail longer, is what is needed, she added.

"In Ontario we build schools, we don't build jails," Meilleur said. 
"We are in the process of modernizing our system. There are jails we 
have in place that were built before Confederation."

If Ottawa wants these changes then they must provide additional 
funding to help Ontario pay for the program, she said.

Meilleur said she'll push Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on the 
issue this week in Prince Edward Island when federal, provincial and 
territorial justice ministers meet.

"We expect Ottawa to do what's right and provide additional funding 
to help Ontario deal with the consequences of Bill C-10," she said.

However, the provincial Progressive Conservatives said the $1 billion 
figure from Meilleur is more about "bashing Ottawa" than anything else.

"Let's get real," said Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak. "There's only one 
taxpayer. So I suspect this sounds like more language from the 
McGuinty Liberals to try to avoid their own problems in reducing 
costs and foist them on to somebody else."

Parts of the bill - such as mandatory minimum sentences and getting 
rid of community service and rehabilitation programs - affect Ontario 
in a substantial way, said NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh.

Ottawa failed to consult properly with Ontario, police chiefs and 
Crown attorneys on the legislation, he added.

"The police themselves are indicating this crime bill is 
irresponsible and wasn't properly thought out," Singh said. "The 
Canadian government should be footing the bill."

With files from Rob Ferguson
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom