But Majority Want to Know Cost: Poll A majority of Canadians support the Conservatives' costly prison expansion plan but think the government should be compelled to provide the estimated price tag for its entire law-and-order agenda, according to the results of a new poll. Fifty-seven per cent of those surveyed said the prison expansion program, estimated to cost at least $2 billion, is a worthwhile initiative, while 43 per cent said it is unaffordable. Those results will take some wind out of the sails of the opposition parties who argue that Canadians don't want bigger jails and the government is wasting money at a time when the country has a massive deficit. [continues 362 words]
Liberals Won't Support It The Conservative government's controversial bill that would impose mandatory jail time for offenders caught growing a handful of marijuana plants appears headed to the trash can. The Liberals announced Wednesday they will not support Bill S-10, which has already been passed by the Senate. "I'm very disappointed that they have had this complete flip-flop," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told Postmedia News. The Liberals, who supported previous versions of the bill, now say it would excessively punish some people for minor offences and would cost too much to implement because it will jam prisons that are already filled to the brink. The Conservatives have said they will spend $2 billion over the next five years to expand prisons. [continues 509 words]
Liberals Won't Support Law for Jail Time OTTAWA -- The Conservative government's controversial bill that would impose mandatory jail time for offenders caught growing a handful of marijuana plants appears headed to the trash can. The Liberals announced Wednesday they will not support Bill S-10, which has already been passed by the Senate. "I'm very disappointed that they have had this complete flip-flop," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said. The Liberals, who supported previous versions of the bill, now say it would excessively punish some people for minor offences and would cost too much to implement because it will jam prisons that are already filled to the brink. The Conservatives have said they will spend $2 billion over the next five years to expand prisons. [continues 314 words]
The Conservative government's controversial bill that would impose mandatory jail time for offenders caught growing a handful of marijuana plants appears headed to the trash can. The Liberals announced Wednesday they will not support Bill S-10, which has already been passed by the Senate. "I'm very disappointed that they have had this complete flip-flop," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told Postmedia News. The Liberals, who supported previous versions of the bill, now say it would excessively punish some people for minor offences and would cost too much to implement because it will jam prisons that are already filled to the brink. The Conservatives have said they will spend $2 billion over the next five years to expand prisons. [continues 214 words]
The launch of an anti-drug campaign by the federal government took a decidedly partisan turn Wednesday when Conservative MP Shelly Glover suggested Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff finds it acceptable for youth to smoke marijuana. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Glover were announcing a new television and social media advertising campaign aimed at teenagers and Glover took the opportunity to make a jab at Ignatieff. "It's very disturbing as a parent, and as a police officer for almost 19 years, to hear the opposition, in fact the Liberal leader, say to our children that it is OK to take marijuana in small doses," the Manitoba MP said during her prepared remarks. She repeated her comment in French. [continues 111 words]
Security asks him to butt out and leave A medical marijuana user lit up a joint in the House of Commons Monday to draw attention to what he calls unfair rules set by Health Canada. Abbotsford's Samuel Mellace is a licensed pot user under the federal government's medical marijuana program. He started smoking a joint Monday afternoon while in the public gallery of the House of Commons as the daily question period came to an end. Mellace took a few drags on the joint before a security guard asked him to put it out and leave the gallery, which he did without incident. [continues 330 words]
A medical marijuana user lit up a joint in the House of Commons Monday to draw attention to what he calls unfair rules set by Health Canada. Abbotsford's Samuel Mellace is a licensed pot user under the federal government's medical marijuana program. He started smoking a joint Monday afternoon while in the public gallery of the House of Commons as the daily question period came to an end. Mellace took a few drags on the joint before a security guard asked him to put it out and leave the gallery, which he did without incident. [continues 357 words]
Scientific Evidence Cited Increased enforcement unlikely to reduce violence or drug use, B.C. research finds OTTAWA - The Conservative government's efforts to crack down on drug crimes may do more harm than good, a recent report suggests. The study released yesterday from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS concludes that stepping up the enforcement of drug laws is unlikely to reduce gang violence tied to drugs or stop the circulation of drugs in communities. On the contrary, the report notes that gun violence and murders are likely a consequence of drug prohibition - and laws aimed at breaking up drug gangs could unintentionally increase violence. [continues 293 words]
Tory Proposal The federal government introduced legislation yesterday that would abolish accelerated parole, which allows financial scam artists and other non-violent offenders to obtain release on day parole after serving one-sixth of their sentences. The bill, first promised last week, is the latest Conservative government measure to tackle the hot-button issue of white-collar crime. Early release from prison is a "privilege," not a right, Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan told a news conference. "Canadians are surprised to learn that unless the National Parole Board has reasonable grounds to believe these offenders will commit a violent offence--not another offence, but a violent offence, once released-- they must automatically release those prisoners into the community," said Mr. Van Loan. [continues 189 words]
Canadians who have permission from the federal government to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes are now facing impending restrictions about where they can light up. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Wednesday in the House of Commons that the government is concerned about the issue of smoking medical marijuana in public. "That's why I have instructed my officials to examine this issue and develop options," said the health minister. The federal government has been under pressure to clarify the rules around medical marijuana use in public. [continues 560 words]
Rules Uncertain OTTAWA (CNS) - Canadians who have permission from the federal government to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes are facing impending restrictions about where they can light up. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said yesterday that the government is concerned about the issue of smoking medical marijuana in public. "That's why I have instructed my officials to examine this issue and develop options," she said in the House of Commons. The federal government has been under pressure to clarify the rules around medical marijuana use in public. One recent request for clarification came from a bar owner in Burlington, Ont., who faced allegations of discrimination when he asked a medical marijuana user not to smoke outside his business. [continues 379 words]
There are approximately 900 organized crime groups currently operating in Canada, and British Columbia's Lower Mainland, southern Ontario and the greater Montreal area are the major hubs where they are doing business, according to an annual report from the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada. The 2008 report, released at a Montreal news conference yesterday by RCMP Commissioner William Elliott and other CISC members, provides an overview of organized crime in Canada and highlights global trends. The CISC is made up of police agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels and various other law enforcement and intelligence agencies. [continues 326 words]
Mayor says city, VIHA should discuss strategy on drug-injection exemption Meagan Fitzpatrick, Canwest News Service With a file by Carolyn Heiman of the Times Colonist Federal Health Minister Tony Clement said yesterday Ottawa will appeal this week's B.C. Supreme Court decision that ruled in favour of Vancouver's controversial supervised injection site. Appearing before the House of Commons health committee, Clement said evidence in support of Insite isn't strong enough, and that supervised injection sites prolong addiction and divert dollars away from treatment programs. [continues 363 words]
Insite Can Remain Open Indefinitely After Court Rules That Law Violates Charter Federal Health Minister Tony Clement made it clear Wednesday he is unhappy with the decision by a B.C. Supreme Court judge on Vancouver's supervised drug injection site. Clement said his government disagrees with the ruling by Justice Ian Pitfield that Canada's trafficking and possession laws violate the Charter rights of drug addicts to get help at Insite for what is a medical condition. Pitfield declared that Insite can remain open indefinitely and that current drug laws are unconstitutional with respect to Insite. He gave the federal government a year to rewrite its narcotics laws to allow for the kind of drug use and handling that takes place there. [continues 367 words]
'Supervised Injection Is Not Medicine,' Health Minister Says OTTAWA - Federal Health Minister Tony Clement said yesterday Ottawa will appeal the B. C. Supreme Court decision earlier this week that ruled in favour of Vancouver's controversial supervised injection site. Appearing before the House of Commons health committee, Mr. Clement said scientific evidence in support of Insite is not strong enough and that supervised injection sites prolong addiction and divert dollars away from treatment programs. "For these reasons, fellow committee members, I can inform you today that I will be asking my colleague, Rob Nicholson, the Minister of Justice, to appeal Judge Pitfield's decision at the earliest possible opportunity," Mr. Clement said. [continues 544 words]
Vancouver Addicts; Insite's Operating Permit Expires on June 30 OTTAWA - Supporters of Vancouver's supervised drug injection site were in Ottawa yesterday asking Stephen Harper to put politics aside and keep Insite open. The facility is legally allowed to operate because the federal government granted it an exemption from narcotics laws. That exemption is due to expire on June 30, and the government has not indicated whether the facility will be allowed to continue operating. "At this juncture, we believe [Mr.] Harper has a clear decision to make -- is he going to go the route of ideology or is he going to go the route of good, solid, scientifically supported public health policy?" said Liz Evans, who runs Insite in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health. "We believe that is his decision that he has to make today, to take it out of the realm of politics and put it in the realm of public health, which is firmly where it belongs." [continues 370 words]
June 30 Deadline Looms; Health Department Says It Has Made No Decision Yet VANCOUVER - Supporters of Vancouver's supervised drug injection site were in Ottawa on Tuesday, "begging" Prime Minister Stephen Harper to put politics aside and keep Insite open. The facility is legally allowed to operate because the federal government granted it an exemption from narcotics laws. It expires June 30 and the government has not indicated whether the facility will be allowed to continue operating. "At this juncture, we believe Harper has a clear decision to make: Is he going to go the route of ideology or is he going to go the route of good, solid, scientifically supported public health policy?" said Liz Evans, who runs Insite in partnership with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. [continues 340 words]
Supporters of Facility Urge Harper to Resist Pressure From UN Agency That Criticized Canada for the Project Supporters of Vancouver's supervised drug injection site were in Ottawa yesterday, "begging" Prime Minister Stephen Harper to put politics aside and keep Insite open. The facility is legally allowed to operate because the federal government granted it an exemption from narcotics laws. That exemption is to expire on June 30 and the government has not indicated whether the facility will be allowed to continue operating. [continues 509 words]
Plan to Prevent Kids From Using OTTAWA - A new national program designed to prevent youth from using drugs received a $10 million cheque from the federal government on Wednesday. The money is slated to go toward the Drug Prevention Strategy for Youth, a new five-year plan led by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, the government-supported national agency for substance abuse. The strategy will target youth between the ages of 10 and 24 and will have several goals: to reduce the number of youth using illegal drugs, to delay and deter the onset of drug use, to reduce the frequency of drug use, and to reduce multiple drug use among those young people who do use. [continues 320 words]
OTTAWA -- A new national program designed to prevent youth from using drugs received a $10 million cheque from the federal government on Wednesday. The money is slated to go toward the Drug Prevention Strategy for Youth, a new five-year plan led by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, the government-supported national agency for substance abuse. The strategy will target youth between the ages of 10 and 24 and will have several goals: to reduce the number of youth using illegal drugs, to delay and deter the onset of drug use, to reduce the frequency of drug use, and to reduce multiple drug use among those young people who do use. [continues 317 words]
OTTAWA -- A new national program designed to prevent youth from using drugs received $10 million from the federal government Wednesday. The money is slated to go toward the Drug Prevention Strategy for Youth, a new five-year plan led by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, the government-supported national agency for substance abuse. The strategy will target youth between the ages of 10 and 24 and will have several goals: to reduce the number of youth using illegal drugs, to delay and deter the onset of drug use, to reduce the frequency of drug use, and to reduce multiple drug use among those young people who do use. [continues 272 words]
The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under the current set of regulations, licensed producers are only allowed to grow the drug for one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, the latest in a string of court cases, will essentially mean more choice for approved medical marijuana users and should provide easier access for them to the drug. [continues 552 words]
(CNS) - The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under the current set of regulations, licensed producers are only allowed to grow the drug for one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, the latest in a string of court cases, will essentially mean more choice for approved medical marijuana users and should provide easier access for them to the drug. [continues 157 words]
Court Declares One-To-One Ratio Unconstitutional (CNS) - The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under the current set of regulations, licensed producers are only allowed to grow the drug for one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, the latest in a string of court cases, will essentially mean more choice for approved medical marijuana users and should provide easier access for them to the drug. [continues 376 words]
(CNS) - The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under regulations, licensed producers are allowed to grow the drug for only one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, the latest in a string of court cases, will mean more choice for approved medical marijuana users and should provide easier access for them to the drug. [continues 286 words]
The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under the current set of regulations, licensed producers are only allowed to grow the drug for one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, the latest in a string of court cases, will essentially mean more choice for approved medical marijuana users and should provide them with easier access to the drug. [continues 452 words]
Licensed Growers No Longer Restricted To Just One Customer The federal government lost another court challenge to its controversial medical marijuana program, and now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling that declared one of its key policies unconstitutional. Under the current set of regulations, licensed producers are only allowed to grow the drug for one patient at a time. Federal Court Judge Barry Strayer said that the one-to-one ratio violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. [continues 570 words]
Organized crime is fuelling the drug trade in Canada, with increasingly sophisticated gangs branching out to produce more potent and lethal drugs with names like "budder" and "cheese," an RCMP intelligence report reveals. And at the centre is British Columbia, a production and transshipment hub in the worldwide trade in illegal drugs, says the head of criminal analysis for the RCMP's Pacific region. According to the RCMP's Drug Situation Report 2006, released yesterday, criminal organizations have grown from one-drug shops into sophisticated multi-commodity trafficking rings. [continues 322 words]
OTTAWA (CNS) - Organized crime is continuing to fuel the drug trade in Canada and a new report notes that criminal organizations are branching out and becoming more sophisticated. "These organizations are powerful, well-connected and are dealing in high profit-yielding illicit ventures across the globe," said the RCMP's Drug Situation Report 2006, released Monday. The annual report is based on seizure data and investigations conducted by the RCMP and other enforcement agencies. [continues 286 words]
OTTAWA (CNS) -- Organized crime is continuing to fuel the drug trade in Canada and a new report notes that criminal organizations are branching out and becoming more sophisticated. "These organizations are powerful, well-connected and are dealing in high profit-yielding illicit ventures across the globe," said the RCMP's Drug Situation Report 2006, released Monday. The annual report is based on seizure data and investigations conducted by the RCMP and other enforcement agencies. The report found that organized crime is a driving force behind an expanding drug trade in Canada. Whereas in previous years criminal groups specialized in just one drug, they are now spreading out and involved in dealing multiple drugs, both importing and exporting. [continues 184 words]
Mounties Especially Worried About Use Of 'Budder' And 'Cheese' OTTAWA (CNS) - Organized crime is continuing to fuel the drug trade in Canada and a new report notes that criminal organizations are branching out and becoming more sophisticated. "These organizations are powerful, well-connected and are dealing in high profit-yielding illicit ventures across the globe," said the RCMP's Drug Situation Report 2006, released Monday. The annual report is based on seizure data and investigations conducted by the RCMP and other enforcement agencies. [continues 305 words]
The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited, $63.8 million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted drug use takes an expensive toll on the health-care system and fuels crime. [continues 192 words]
Opposition Pans Harper's $63.8m National Anti-Drug Strategy As U.S.-Style War on Drugs The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited, $63.8-million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive toll on the health-care system and fuels crime. [continues 692 words]
Mandatory Prison Sentences Key to Ottawa's $64-Million Crackdown WINNIPEG -- The federal government will introduce legislation this fall setting out mandatory minimum prison sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday. "Currently, there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." The $63.8-million national anti-drug strategy also promises more resources for identifying and closing down marijuana-growing operations, although Harper would not say whether marijuana growers would face tougher sentences. [continues 448 words]
But Soft on Addicts. Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentences for People Convicted of 'Serious' Drug Crimes The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited, $63.8 million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive toll on the health care system and fuels crime. [continues 408 words]
Anti-Drug Strategy Includes Mandatory Minimum Sentences The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited, $63.8 million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive toll on the health-care system and fuels crime. [continues 656 words]
Law Would Mean Minimum Jail Time for Drug Crimes The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited, $63.8 million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the prime minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive toll on the health care system and fuels crime. [continues 472 words]
PM Mum on His Plans for Pot Growers The federal government will introduce legislation this fall setting out mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." The $63.8-million national anti-drug strategy also promises more resources for identifying and closing down marijuana-growing operations, although Harper would not say whether marijuana growers would face tougher sentences. [continues 914 words]
Anti-Drug Strategy The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would require mandatory minimum jail sentences for people convicted of "serious" drug crimes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday. "Currently there are no minimum prison sentences for producing and trafficking dangerous drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine," Mr. Harper told a news conference. "But these are serious crimes; those who commit them should do serious time." But in launching the government's long-awaited,$63.8-million national anti-drug strategy in Winnipeg, Mr. Harper also promised to be compassionate toward people hooked on illegal drugs. In particular, the Prime Minister said he is concerned about rising drug use among youth. He also noted that drug use takes an expensive toll on the health care system and fuels crime. [continues 586 words]
Smoking Pot Is More Popular Than Puffing On Tobacco: Study A new study that concludes Canadian teens smoke more marijuana than cigarettes doesn't surprise Manitoba addiction officials. An increasing rate of marijuana smoking among young people is just one finding in a report about substance report released Wednesday. Researchers say the report should serve as a "call to action" to parents. After alcohol, cannabis is the most commonly used illegal substance among youth. Cannabis use is reported by 17 per cent of students in grades 7 to 9, about 29 per cent of 15- to 17-year-olds, and almost half of 18- to 19-year-olds, says the report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA). [continues 841 words]
Many Smoke, Drink, Use Drugs By Early Teens. One-Size-Fits-All Approach Won't Suit All Ages: Expert By the time they're 14, many Canadian youth have done it all - cigarettes, drugs and alcohol - so a new report on substance abuse and addiction should serve as a "call to action" to change that, the organization behind the research says. Pot smoking, in fact, now exceeds the rate of cigarette smoking among youth, the study found. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says Canadians need to pay closer attention to the fact the average age when a child smokes a cigarette for the first time is about 12, 13 when he or she uses alcohol and gets drunk and 14 for first-time drug use. [continues 544 words]
More Smoke Pot Than Cigarettes, Abuse Centre Says OTTAWA - By the time they're 14, many Canadian youth have done it all -- cigarettes, drugs and alcohol -- and a new report on substance abuse and addiction should serve as a "call to action" to change that, the organization behind the research says. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says Canadians need to pay closer attention to the facts that the average age when a child smokes a cigarette for the first time is about 12, 13 when he or she uses alcohol and 14 for first-time drug use. [continues 654 words]
Researchers Call For New Strategies OTTAWA - By the time they are 14, many Canadian youth have done it all - -- cigarettes, drugs and alcohol -- so a new report on drug abuse and addiction should serve as a "call to action" to change that, the organization behind the research says. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says Canadians need to pay closer attention to the facts that the average age when a child smokes a cigarette for the first time is about 12, 13 when he or she uses alcohol and gets drunk, and 14 for first-time drug use. [continues 402 words]
By the time they're 14, many Canadian youth have done it all -- cigarettes, drugs and alcohol -- so a new report on substance abuse and addiction should serve as a "call to action" to change that, the organization behind the research says. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says Canadians need to pay closer attention to the facts that the average age when a child smokes a cigarette for the first time is about 12, 13 when he or she uses alcohol and gets drunk and 14 for first-time drug use. [continues 623 words]
Canadian police are tackling more organized crime this year than last, statistics released yesterday reveal. In its annual report on the state of organized crime, the RCMP said the number of gangs operating in 2007 jumped to 950 from 800 in 2006. "This is significant and reinforces our commitment to work together to detect, reduce, and prevent organized crime in Canada," William Elliott, the newly named RCMP commissioner, said at a news conference in Calgary. [continues 476 words]
WINNIPEG - Canada's provincial prison population has shifted dramatically over the past decade, according to figures released yesterday by Statistics Canada, with fewer people sentenced to jail time and more in temporary custody. For the first time, in 2004-05, the number of adults held on remand or other temporary detention and the number of sentenced offenders were virtually equal. On an average day, about 9,800 adults were being held in sentenced custody in provincial or territorial jails, and slightly more -- 9,900 -- were being held while awaiting trial, sentencing or another form of temporary detention. [continues 401 words]
Shift Reported By Statistics Canada Raises Alarm With Advocacy Group Over Presumption Of Innocence WINNIPEG -- Canada's provincial prison population has shifted dramatically over the past decade, according to new numbers released Wednesday by Statistics Canada, with fewer people sentenced to jail time and more in temporary custody. For the first time, in 2004-05 the number of adults held on remand or other temporary detention and the number of sentenced offenders were virtually equal. On an average day, about 9,800 adults were being held in sentenced custody in provincial or territorial jails and 9,900 were being held while awaiting trial, sentencing or another form of temporary detention. [continues 343 words]
WINNIPEG - Canada's provincial prison population has shifted dramatically over the last decade according to new numbers released yesterday by Statistics Canada, with fewer people sentenced to jail time and more in temporary custody. For the first time, in 2004-'05 the number of adults held on remand or other temporary detention and the number of sentenced offenders were virtually equal. On an average day, about 9,800 adults were being held in sentenced custody in provincial or territorial jails and slightly more -- 9,900, -- were being held while awaiting trial, sentencing or another form of temporary detention. [continues 346 words]
