by

Review: The 74%

Twenty-six percent of all new federal prisoners have already served time, which begs the question: Whatever happened to the other 74 percent who served time and never returned? On The Outside looks for answers. The result is fresh and compelling research on life after prison. The authors interview longtime inmates including those jailed for serious violent crimes that once earned the death penalty. One hides his past from his children and “aspires to a simple life filled with laughter.” Another complains he must learn how to buy groceries: “People have been cooking my meals for twenty-two years and all of a sudden I gotta cook my breakfast.” A third ex-convict is upset by the loss of civility in polite society: “Personal rudeness in the prison system is not tolerated under any circumstances, at least in the old days when I was there.” On The Outside is no celebration of rehabilitation. Former inmates interviewed by the authors appear broken men, some guilt-ridden, some unapologetic. READ MORE

No Sympathy For Employers

Canadians are indifferent to claims of labour shortages by businesses that rely on foreign workers, says Department of Immigration research. Even people with mild views on immigration were “unpersuaded” by complaints from employers: 'Some suggested they may depress wages and used foreign workers to drive down costs.' READ MORE

Count Only ‘Workable’ Days

Tax appeals that should take 120 days may take years based on a federal redefinition of time. The disclosure came in a labour board hearing for a Canada Revenue Agency appeals officer demoted for working too slowly: "On occasion it takes years." READ MORE

Do Not Get Trapped In Cuba

Canadians traveling to Cuba should expect to be stranded without electricity, food or fresh water, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Diplomats updated a federal travel advisory warning conditions were so poor, drivers were fighting in gas station lineups: "Traveling across the island is extremely challenging." READ MORE

More Research On Arctic Port

Cabinet yesterday said it will spend $248,600 for a study on how much it would take to upgrade Canada’s most northerly deepwater port. The Port of Churchill, Man. has been the subject of numerous postwar studies that questioned its commercial potential: "What is the viability of the Port of Churchill?" READ MORE

Say French Fines Aren’t Fair

Air Canada complains it is being singled out for French fines under draft regulations requiring bilingual service by federally regulated transport employers. Maximum fines are $25,000: "Other air carriers do not have the same obligations as Air Canada." READ MORE

‘My Job’s Easy,’ Says Minister

The number of landed immigrants let into Canada last year totaled 393,500, Immigration Minister Lena Diab said yesterday. The figure was almost a quarter less than the 500,000 quota set prior to 2024 cuts: "My job has been made quite easy." READ MORE

← Previous Articles

Guest Commentary

Lee Morrison

Sting Like A Bee

I will never forget the 1993 campaign. It was electric. There was a cry for change and tempers ran high. I got into a fight with one voter on his own front porch. And I learned never to campaign in bars. Alcohol brings out cynicism in the electorate. When we almost killed the Conservative Party, the hunger for change was genuine. We won 2,559,245 votes from Canadians who sought to reform forever the way Ottawa worked. It’s a shame we failed to do it. There’s a proverb that reform movements are like bees: They sting and then they die.