Our Crime Panel questions the effectiveness of Alberta's fatality inquiry system, looks at what constitutes a weapon and the right to practice religion behind bars.
Does Alberta's fatality inquiry system need an overhaul?
A recent Edmonton Journal editorial calls into question the effectiveness of Alberta’s current fatality inquiry review system.
In the current system, inquiries are conducted years after deaths, only to result in judicial recommendations with no response from the province.
Last year Provincial Court Judge Bart Rosborough released a public inquiry report following the 2011 strangling of a Camrose care worker, in it he questioned why judges even bother to make recommendations in fatality inquiry reports, when the provincial government isn’t required to respond with any action? The province responded to the report with the creation of a public website offering information on judicial recommendations arising from public fatality inquiries, and the actions of those responsible.
Many say the site does not go far enough to offer transparency, and by allowing those responsible to respond with inaction is not sufficient.
What constitutes a weapon?
What is a weapon? That question was before an Edmonton court as a Court of Queen’s Bench Justice offered a new definition as to what could be considered a weapon.
The case involved an appeal by convicted murderer Travis Vader. In February 2015 Vader was located by police “in the middle of nowhere, driving and behaving erratically”. Police found a machete, along with a fishing knife inside the vehicle, a discovery that ultimately led to a conviction for violating bail conditions.
In his appeal Vader attempted to argue that the knife and machete found in his vehicle should not be considered weapons because they were “designed for use”.
Justice Terry Clarkson dismissed the appeal, and in his decision the judge discussed how when defining a weapon, the context of the object must be considered. For example, it might be reasonable to have a fishing knife at a lake, but not in the city.
Rights and resources for practicing religion behind bars
Canada’s Human Rights Commission has received an increase in complaints from inmates around religious accommodation. Among the complaints inmates cite concerns around the delivery of spiritual services and practices, and the observance of holy days.
Another issue raised was too few religious leaders working inside Canada’s prisons. Prisons must meet an inmates religious needs, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Our Crime Panel includes Keith Spence, retired crimonologist and Ed O'Neill, defence lawyer.
