Justice

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) slammed government’s proposed changes to the Access to Information Act today, calling the amendments repressive and regressive.

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Today government is bringing into this House the most regressive and repressive piece of legislation I have ever seen.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Who was consulted in the drafting of Bill 29?

NDP Justice Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John’s Centre) had strong words today for the province’s justice system. This morning, another judge heard a request from an accused person for a sentence longer than two years, in order that the accused serve time in a federal penitentiary.

Today in the House of Assembly NDP Justice Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John’s Centre) pressed the government to release a report from the Citizens’ Representative.

Rogers stated that in March 2011, the Office of the Citizens' Representative released a report on the psychiatric services at HMP.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, in the case of Mr. Eddie Taylor, Judge Dymond ordered that while incarcerated at Her Majesty's Penitentiary Mr. Taylor be allowed to continue to see his own psychiatrist and continue to take his own medications, as prescribed by his doctor.

NDP Justice Critic Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John’s Centre) asked in the House of Assembly today for the minister of justice to show leadership on two crucial issues rather than waiting to see what other jurisdictions do.

NDP MHA Gerry Rogers (St. John’s Centre) is continuing her push to have gender identity included in the province’s Human Rights Code.

On Wednesday, May 23, a Bill was introduced in the Manitoba legislature that would amend that province’s Human Rights Code to include gender identity as grounds for discrimination. This affects services in housing, employment and health.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, we know that Bill C-10 means increased downloading on the provincial corrections system in the near future and that the federal government has made it clear they have no intention to fund the construction of a new prison to replacement Her Majesty’s Penitentiary.

Today in the House of Assembly NDP MHA Gerry Rogers (St. John’s Centre) asked the minister of justice two questions about Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP) and the department’s plans for dealing with the fallout from Federal Bill C-10.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) today announced the critic roles to be filled by members of the NDP caucus.