On this episode of Appointed, Kim speaks with criminal defence lawyer Theresa Donkor about guaranteed livable basic income, the mass incarceration of Black, Indigenous and BIPOC Canadians, and Ms Donkor's analysis of how poverty and systemic racism contribute to the over-criminalization and imprisonment of her clients. 

Theresa Donkor is a criminal defence lawyer and the Advocacy Director for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL). She advocates with a focus on racial justice, and in this episode discusses the intersectional benefits of guaranteed livable basic income. The conversation also includes her expert testimony before Standing Senate Committees, most recently before the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding a new car theft provision introduced in the Criminal Code via 2024 budget implementation legislation 

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Information Materials re: Facts about Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income can be read here

About Theresa Donkor here
About the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers here

 On this episode of Appointed, Kim speaks with the Honourable Harry Laforme about the importance of ensuring independence, authority and resources in order to ensure the new commission can effectively consider wrongful convictions. Informed by the report he and the Honourable Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré authored, as well as the one they inspired about 12 Indigenous women, they discuss the findings and significance of the government's decision to exclude key recommendations in Bill C-40, the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Act (David and Joyce Milgaard's Law).

As Bill C-40 is being considered by the Senate, Kim and Justice Laforme discuss the imperatives of redressing systemic discrimination, especially for Indigenous women, and the challenges of achieving this important objective via the current version of Bill C-40. They underscore the importance of creating proactive, independent, and systemic approaches to addressing miscarriages of justice, consistent with the report and model proposed by Justices Laforme and Westmoreland-Traoré.
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A Miscarriage of Justice Commission Report can be read here

Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women report can be read online here

Conviction Integrity: The Canadian Miscarriages of Justice Commission by Carrie Leonetti, University of Auckland can be found here

The brief submitted by the Hon. Harry Laforme, Hon. Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, and Kent Roach to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights can be found here

Native Women's Association of Canada's submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights can be found here

Submission of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies can be read here

University of British Columbia’s Innocence Project brief can be read here

BILL C-40, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation (miscarriage of justice reviews) is accessible here

On this episode of Appointed, Senator Pate speaks with The Honourable Marion Buller, Chancellor of the University of Victoria and former Chief Commissioner of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the first Indigenous woman appointed as a judge in British Columbia.

The two discuss the connections between poverty, violence against Indigenous women and girls, the mass incarceration and institutionalization of Indigenous women, and the overarching violence of colonialism. Chancellor Buller’s years of experience on the bench and as chief commissioner provide invaluable perspective vis-a-vis how to address miscarriages of justice experienced by Indigenous women, including via the Calls for Justice of the MMIWG, the proposed Miscarriage of Justice Reviews Act (Bill C-40), the Senator's report on the Miscarriages of Justices Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women, and Bills C-223 & S-233, both aimed at introducing a framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income in Canada.

MMIWG Call for Justice 4.5 directs the government to implement a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, and 5.14 requires the federal and provincial governments to collaborate on a thorough evaluation of the impact that mandatory minimum sentences have on the over-incarceration of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. Given the manner in which MMPs have contributed to the mass incarceration of racialized people, especially Indigenous women, like the TRC, the MMIWG expected the government to follow through on its commitment to repeal mandatory minimum penalties. Chancellor Buller and Senator Pate speak to the intersections of their work and respective struggles to achieve equality and justice.

Content Warning: this episode mentions violence against women, rape, and murder.

Episode Citations:

Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls  can be read online here

Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women report can be read online here

Bill C-40: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation (miscarriage of justice reviews) can be found here

Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income can be found here

Bill C-223,  An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income can be found here

On this episode of Appointed, Senator Kim Pate speaks with Ottawa City Councillors, Theresa Kavanagh and Marty Carr. This fabulous duo successfully presented a motion on July 10, 2024, supporting a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. They were inspired by the Ottawa Board of Health June 17, 2024 resolution supporting a Basic Income Guarantee for all people over the age of 17 as a means of addressing poverty, the number one social determinant of ill health.

Kim and the Councillors discuss the importance of a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, the potential it has to support safety, autonomy, the social determinants of health, and other inequities faced by Ottawa citizens and Canadians more broadly.

Councillor Carr represents the area of Alta Vista, and Councillor Kavanagh is the councillor for the By Ward region of Ottawa.

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Senator Pate’s Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Fact Sheets can be read here

City Council Motion to Support a Guaranteed Basic Income for Canadians available here & here

Ottawa City Council Backs Basic Income can be watched here

Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income can be read here

An Op-Ed by Councillor Marty Carr can be found here

BICYN’s most recent op-ed in The Hill Times (not mentioned in the podcast - but super relevant to the podcast!) is about the Canada Disability Benefit and why we still need a guaranteed basic income. It was written by BICYN directors Alexandra Zannis and Ellen Spannagel. (https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2023/...) 

Kendal's academic work: https://carleton.ca/socialwork/people...

 https://invisibleinstitutions.com/ 

https://invisibleinstitutions.com/pol... 

https://invisibleinstitutions.com/pol... 

https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2022...

 https://doi.org/10.22215/etd/2021-14559

 https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/csw...

 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... 

To learn more about the Basic Income Canada Youth Network Website:

 https://www.basicincomeyouth.ca/ 

Youtube:   

 / @basicincomecanadayouthnetw8430  

 Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/BICYN_

 Tiktok: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@basicincomeyo...

 Instagram: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@basicincomeyo...

 For more on the bills discussed in the episode: Bill C-22: Canada Disability Benefit Act 

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill...

 Bill S-233: National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act 

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill...

For more information:

 President Cassidy Caron: https://www.metisnation.ca/presidents... 

Métis National Council: https://www.metisnation.ca/ 

The various Accords and Sub-Accords between the MNC & Canada: https://www.metisnation.ca/about/reso... 

The Métis Nation of Ontario Housing Census: https://www.metisnation.org/news/the-... 

Bill C-53: Recognition of Certain Métis Governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan and Métis Self-Government Act : https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill..

Bill S-233 & Bill C-223: National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act 

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill... 

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill...

Podcast Links:

Click here to access Income Supports and Indigenous Peoples In B.C. - An Analysis of Gaps and Barriers

Click here to check outCovering All the Basics: Reforms for a More Just Society

Click here to read Together BC - British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

Click here to access resources available via Basic Income Coalition Canada and UBI Works here

Click here to read Bill S-233 and here to check out MP Leah Gazan’s Bill C-233

Click here to check out the Parliamentary Budget Officer Report - Costing a Guaranteed Basic Income During the COVID Pandemic

Click here to access Perspectives, document outlining the need and benefits of implementing a Guaranteed Livable Income in 🇨🇦.

Resources

• Click here to check out Kim’s Senate Webpage
• Click here to access publications of Professor Debra Parkes
• Click here to access research by Dr. Jane Sprott
• Click here to read research by Professor Isabel Grant
• Click here to learn more about Bryan Stevenson’s work.
• Click here to get the reports, Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women and Senators go to Jail.

Reports and Papers

• Click here to access Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women. 
• Click here to read Carly Peddle, Emma Ronsley & Debra Parkes, Toward Abolishing the Mandatory Life Sentence and Parole Ineligibility Periods for Murder: Discussion Document.
• Click here to check out Sarah Chaster’s paper, Cruel, Unusual, and Constitutionally Infirm: Mandatory Minimum Sentences in Canada.
• Click here to access Marie-Eve Sylvestre’s research, Moving towards a minimalist and transformative criminal justice system: Essay on the reform of the principles and objectives of sentencing, prepared for the Department of Justice Canada.
• Click here to access research by the Department of Justice on MMPs
• Click here to read the Senators Go to Jail report.

Legislation

• Click here to access Bill S-233
• Click here to read Bill C-223
• Click here to check out Bill S-230

PBO Reports

• Click here to read the PBO report titled The Federal Cost of Minimum Sentences. 
• Click here to check out Demonstrative Examples of Costing Sentenced Inmates
  • Click here to access the PBO report, The Fiscal Impact of Changes to Eligibility for Conditional Sentences Imprisonment in Canada.
• Click here to check out the PBO report on the Funding Requirement and Impact of the “Truth in Sentencing Act” on the Correctional System in Canada.

Jurisprudence

• Click here to read R. v. Bissonnette, 2022 SCC 23
• Click here to access Twins v. Canada (Attorney General), 2016 FC 537
• Click here to read R. v. Luxton, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 711
• Click here to access R. v. D.B., [2008] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2008 SCC 25
• Click here to read R. v. Ipeelee, 2012 SCC 13, [2012] 1 S.C.R. 433

Other Resources

• Click here to check out Kim’s Senate Bio page
• Click here to access publications by Professor Parkes

Click here for more information about Professor Bednar and her public policy research.

Click here to access the Perspectives document on Guaranteed Livable Income by Team Pate.

Click here to check out Professor Bednar on the Cross Country Checkup Podcast

Other resources referred to in the episode:

Click here to access Professor Bednar’s paper on competition policy in Canada, mentioned at 2:45.

Click here to access a copy of the Competition Act, referred to at 2:45

Click here for resources about recent changes to Canada's child care system, as discussed at 20:20.

General topics discussed in the episode:

See the 4:00 minute mark for a discussion about the connection between competition policy issues, income inequality, and strategies to promote social and economic fairness.

See the 6:05 minute mark for Professor Bednar’s commentary on consumer protection, competition, and opportunities to empower individuals in a digital economy.

See the 7:05 minute mark for Professor’ Bednar’s commentary on rising food princes and expanding inequality.

See the 8:30 minute mark for a discussion about effective policies for eliminating income inequality, as exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

See the 11:00 minute mark for a discussion about the benefits, complications, and specific qualities of an effective guaranteed livable income policy.

See the 17:00 minute mark about the frustrating process of transforming good ideas into good policy, and the next steps for implementing competition reform.

Click here to access to Bill C-5.

Click here to read more on Bill C-22

Click here to check out Dr. Sheehy’s book Defending Battered Women on Trial.

Click here to read Justice Arbour’s Inquiry into certain events at the Prison for Women in Kingston also known as the Arbour Report

Click here to read R v Luxton

Click here to read more about R v Naslund

Click here to access the Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women report

Click here to read more about the inquest in Renfrew County

Click here to access more information on the Portapique Inquiry 

Click here to read Bonnie Moonie’s story