Khadr decision expected in March

EDMONTON — An Alberta judge is to rule next month whether former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr should have his eight-year sentence for war crimes declared expired.

The sentence, which was imposed in 2010 by a military commission in the United States, would have ended last October had Khadr remained in custody.

But the clock stopped when a judge freed him on bail in 2015 pending Khadr’s appeal of his military conviction — a years-long process that has no end in sight.

His lawyer, Nate Whitling, told an Edmonton court that Khadr served three years and five months in custody and has been out on bail for another three years and nine months.

He said the appeal, in the meantime, hasn’t advanced “even an inch” in the U.S.

BC Corrections gets mixed reviews

VICTORIA — The provincial auditor general is giving BC Corrections mixed reviews in a progress audit stemming from a 2015 report that questioned inmate safety and found facilities were over capacity.

Carole Bellringer’s most recent audit found that British Columbia’s correctional agency implemented three of eight recommendations and is working on two more, but has yet to take action on the final three.

Bellringer’s report says a new program has been developed for female inmates and body scanners are being used to address contraband coming into the jails.

New living units have also been established for those inmates with substance use issues.

But the report says Corrections is still working on implementing a performance management framework that would outline goals to achieve safe and secure custody, and reduce criminal behaviour.

B.C. moves on consumer protections

VICTORIA — British Columbia is amending consumer protection law to offer more safeguards for people forced to turn to high-cost loan services and risk being caught in an endless cycle of debt payments.

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says proposed amendments to B.C.’s Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act will set limits on borrowing costs, prohibit certain fees and charges and restrict the use of borrowers’ personal information.

The minority New Democrat government highlighted stronger consumer protection measures in its throne speech earlier this month, saying it plans to crack down on unfair payday loan practices.

Last June, the government capped fees for cashing assistance cheques at $2 plus one per cent of the value of the cheque up to a maximum of $10 and lowered the maximum fees for payday loans to $15 for every $100 borrowed.

Farnworth says the amendments seek to improve affordability for people using payday loans and other high-credit products and establishes a new licensing and regulatory system for high-cost loan providers.

He says the legislation will also establish a new consumer education fund to help people better understand and prevent financial problems.