Canada’s prison ombudsman, who was quietly fired by the Conservatives for being critical of the Harper government’s treatment of prisoners, is being reinstated by the Liberal Government.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Howard Sapers has agreed to continue in his role as the Correctional Investigator of Canada,” Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said in a released statement. “Mr. Sapers’ appointment has been renewed for a one-year term and his experience and dedication will be invaluable as we move towards fulfilling the Government’s commitment to review the criminal justice system. I look forward working with him.”
“Since his initial appointment in February 2004, Mr. Sapers has demonstrated an objective and attentive approach in identifying issues of concern within the federal correctional system in a timely, fair and reasonable manner,” Goodale added. “Our Government believes in strong public institutions, in transparency and accountability, and that includes an accountable federal correctional system that is fair, humane, and effective.”
Sapers released a report last year in which he showed that Stephen Harper’s “tough-on-crime” policies were leading to too many inmates being released from prison with little to no preparation or supervision.
“Returning offenders to the community who are embittered by their incarceration experience, instead of (being) provided opportunities for positive change, is not in anyone’s interest,” Sapers said. “Graduated and structured release is less costly and more successful than releasing an offender directly from prison with limited or no period of supervision.”
Sapers had made it clear that he was frustrated with a lack of response by the Harper government to his previous recommendations.
“What I say to the government is, it’s time that we had a response,” he said. “It’s time that we knew what steps were being taken because these issues address the ability to prevent deaths in custody. It’s very important.”
The then Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney’s office reacted to Sapers’s report with its oft repeated line “At all times, our thoughts are with the victims of crime,” before proceeding to fire Sapers.