Honourable senators, I rise to speak at third reading of Bill C-37, An Act to amend the Criminal Code.
This bill amends the Criminal Code to change the rules concerning mandatory surcharges. The purpose of the bill is to double victim surcharge amounts and to make them mandatory for all offenders convicted of a criminal offence…
Although they represent only 4% of the Canadian female population, Aboriginal women comprise over 32% of federally-sentenced women. Over the past ten years, the number of federally-sentenced Aboriginal women has increased by 86%, making Aboriginal women the fastest growing federally-sentenced population. Aboriginal women are also disproportionately represented federally-sentenced female inmates with mental health needs.
As many of you are aware, Kinew James, a 35-year-old federally sentenced Aboriginal woman, died at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon on January 20th, 2013. Ms. James had mental health needs, having admitted to self-harming behaviour and had threatened to hang herself while incarcerated at Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario. And [...]
Honourable senators, over the last month I have had the pleasure of exchanging emails with hundreds of Canadians on the subject of mental health treatment for offenders. I wanted to learn more about their concerns, their experiences and their ideas on how to promote human rights, including safety for all Canadians.
(Une version française suit) Ottawa, April 25, 2013 —This afternoon, Senator Mobina Jaffer delivered her second reading speech on Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code (mental health treatment). “Bill S-216 would create the same provisions for mental health treatment that already exist for drug treatment in the Controlled [...]