CCLA on John Howard Society of Saskatchewan vs the Government of Saskatchewan

TORONTO —  Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, made the following statement:

Pro bono lawyers for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association will appear before the Supreme Court of Canada as interventors in John Howard Society Saskatchewan v Saskatchewan. This case arises from a constitutional challenge brought by the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan regarding the low standard of proof in prison disciplinary hearings in the province of Saskatchewan.

The CCLA is intervening in this case at the Supreme Court of Canada to ensure that inmates charged with disciplinary offences have access to fair and impartial proceedings.  Sanctions for disciplinary offences have a significant impact on the rights of inmates: guilt should not be determined on the basis of a low threshold of proof.

The CCLA will argue that a higher burden of proof is necessary to mitigate against the lack of independence and impartiality that result from the very structure of inmate disciplinary hearings.

The CCLA will also argue that well-documented systemic bias within the correctional system, particularly against individuals from marginalized groups, further calls for a higher burden of proof for disciplinary hearings. Indigenous and Black women, as well as those with mental health conditions, are disproportionately subjected to disciplinary action within the correctional system and are disproportionately impacted by disciplinary sanctions.

The CCLA is grateful to be represented pro bono on this intervention by Alexa Biscaro and Erika Anschuetz of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.

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Read the CCLA’s Written Submissions Here.

À propos de l’association canadienne sur les libertés civiles
L’ACLC est un organisme indépendant à but non lucratif qui compte des partisans dans tout le pays. Fondée en 1964, c’est une association de défense des droits de la personne qui opère à l’échelle du Canada pour défendre les droits, la dignité, la sécurité et les libertés de toute la population.

Communications avec les médias :
media@ccla.org