Drug Free Prisons bill falls short, critics say
OTTAWA — A new bill to tackle drug use in federal prisons does nothing to address the actual problem and ignores bigger issues like institutional violence, custodial deaths and overcrowding, critics say.
The Drug Free Prisons Act tabled Friday gives the Parole Board of Canada new powers to deal with offenders who test positive for drugs or refuse a drug test before they’re granted parole, including the power to cancel their release. It also requires the Parole Board to pay specific attention to whether abstention from drugs and alcohol ought to be a condition for parole.
“Tackling drug use and trade in federal penitentiaries will make the correctional system safer for staff and inmates, while also increasing the success of rehabilitation,” Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said in a statement. “This contributes to building safer communities for Canadians.”
NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison said the title of the bill is a misnomer. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the title: Drug Free Prisons at all,” he said. “You can say, ironically, it’s the opposite. If someone’s doing drugs, they stay in prison.”
He called it “propaganda” aimed at the Conservative base of law-and-order minded supporters, but noted his party would thoroughly review it and, if it seems to support the successful reintegration of offenders into the community, the NDP would support it.
Practically speaking, prison watchdog Howard Sapers said the bill would apply to few offenders since urine tests are already limited to a small number of randomly selected inmates or in cases where drug use is suspected or for those in drug treatment programs.
“There may be some operational issues with this change as well. CSC has reported on false positive results in urinalysis and offenders have the right to re-test and appeal,” he said.
He suggested the bill is also redundant as the Parole Board already has the power to impose prohibitions on intoxicants and to review or revoke parole if such conditions are violated.