Central Nova Prison Conditions - Question Period

MR. SPEAKER « » : The honorable member for Dartmouth South.

JUSTICE - CENTRAL NOVA: PRISON CONDITIONS - STANDARD

MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Yesterday, the minister released an op-ed about the Central Nova Correctional Facility in Burnside. The minister states that the individuals in the facility are ". . . in custody because they have been charged criminally and the community does not accept the behaviour."

Mr. Speaker the majority of those in provincial custody, almost 60 per cent, are there on remand. They have been charged, but they have not been convicted. In the eyes of our justice system, they are innocent. Mr. Speaker, will the minister acknowledge the majority of people held in Burnside have not been tried, found guilty, or convicted of a crime.

HON. MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague. We know that the circumstances are very varied within our correctional institutions. What I do what to share with my colleague is that we have a provincial committee working now with all the provincial stakeholders in the criminal justice system to identify and advance change that is necessary to address some of these circumstances. One of those is custody of those under remand, Mr. Speaker.

We know there are challenges in that system, but I want to commit to my colleague, and all Nova Scotians, that we continue to work diligently towards solutions.

MS. CHENDER « » : I thank the minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, yesterday a media report indicated that five people in Burnside have asked the court to order them released from solitary confinement. Three of these people are on remand. One of them, Kaz Cox, has been given no information about why he is being held in solitary. He has had his lights on from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. each day and a high-beam flashlight in his face every half-hour between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m.

In his hand-written application, Mr. Cox says he feels that he is being tortured while awaiting trial. Mr. Speaker, does this situation meet the minister's standard for our justice system?

MR. FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I appreciate again the circumstances that my colleague is sharing. I'm not aware of the specific circumstances that she has shared, but certainly there are varied reasons why individuals are in close confinement and often it is for their very own protection. There are other circumstances that are intended to address the overall objective of security within those facilities.

Mr. Speaker, was just this past week that a matter of close confinement was brought before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and Justice Kevin Coady was very clear in his decision, recognizing that close confinement is an appropriate tool, at times, but a tool of last resort. I want to table an article to address that.

MR. SPEAKER « » : The honorable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.