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Prisoners exercise their right to vote
Friday was voting day for prisoners across Canada. About 35,000 were eligible to vote, and many seemed to be voting Liberal in order to protect privileges that Conservatives threaten to take away.
"We're all voting for the Liberals, just because we want to keep our vote," Jeff Power, an inmate at Manitoba's Stony Mountain facility told CTV Winnipeg. "We don't want to lose rights like our TVs, stuff like that."
The Conservative Party is showing better results in the campaign polls than it has seen in years, and some hardened criminals are nervous. Many of them, like Power, voted Liberal today primarily to keep the Tories out of office. They're worried the party will claw back benefits they have received under Liberal rule.
Power, who is serving a six-year sentence for drug trafficking and robbery, was one of 177 inmates who cast his ballot Friday in the Stony Mountain facility. He proudly displayed his Liberal stripes, with a Maple Leaf and Liberal 'L' shaved into the side of his head and outlined in red.
"Everyone is afraid the PCs are going do dehumanize inmates," Power said.
And from cell to cell, prisoner after prisoner told CTV Winnipeg they were voting Liberal, with no exceptions.
There's no question, Harper supports harsher policies for those who break the law. The Liberals are also promising tougher sentences for criminals, especially for violent and gun-related crimes. But the Tory platform -- and Harper's position against allowing prisoners to vote -- is what seems to have struck fear in inmates' hearts.
"No, I don't agree with prisoner voting," Harper has stated plainly.
At least one of his opponents feels differently.
"The courts don't sentence by taking away citizenship, and citizens have a right to vote in this country," said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.
The 2004 election marked the first time inmates were allowed to cast a ballot, thanks to a 2002 Supreme Court of Canada decision that ruled it was contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to bar prisoners from voting.
Before the decision was made, prisoners serving sentences of two years or more were barred from voting. The court ruling gave all prisoners the right to vote regardless of the length of their sentence.
Today there are about 36,000 prisoners in jails across the nation and 25 per cent of them are expected to vote.
Like other Canadians, they have beliefs and ideals they want to defend with their vote.
"Myself, I have a family, I have children and grandchildren. So I'm really concerned about their futures," said Dennis Malcolm, a convicted murdered.
But not everyone agrees that prisoners should have the right to vote. Jack McLaughlin, a victims' rights advocate whose son was murdered in 2000, believes criminals forfeit some of the privileges of citizenship.
"Prisoners should not be allowed to vote. They must give up some privileges when they go to jail," McLaughlin told CTV Winnipeg.
For the moment though, every vote counts. And if the race remains close, those votes could play a vital role in electing the next government.
Prisoners exercise their right to vote
Friday was voting day for prisoners across Canada. About 35,000 were eligible to vote, and many seemed to be voting Liberal in order to protect privileges that Conservatives threaten to take away.
"We're all voting for the Liberals, just because we want to keep our vote," Jeff Power, an inmate at Manitoba's Stony Mountain facility told CTV Winnipeg. "We don't want to lose rights like our TVs, stuff like that."
The Conservative Party is showing better results in the campaign polls than it has seen in years, and some hardened criminals are nervous. Many of them, like Power, voted Liberal today primarily to keep the Tories out of office. They're worried the party will claw back benefits they have received under Liberal rule.
Power, who is serving a six-year sentence for drug trafficking and robbery, was one of 177 inmates who cast his ballot Friday in the Stony Mountain facility. He proudly displayed his Liberal stripes, with a Maple Leaf and Liberal 'L' shaved into the side of his head and outlined in red.
"Everyone is afraid the PCs are going do dehumanize inmates," Power said.
And from cell to cell, prisoner after prisoner told CTV Winnipeg they were voting Liberal, with no exceptions.
There's no question, Harper supports harsher policies for those who break the law. The Liberals are also promising tougher sentences for criminals, especially for violent and gun-related crimes. But the Tory platform -- and Harper's position against allowing prisoners to vote -- is what seems to have struck fear in inmates' hearts.
"No, I don't agree with prisoner voting," Harper has stated plainly.
At least one of his opponents feels differently.
"The courts don't sentence by taking away citizenship, and citizens have a right to vote in this country," said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.
The 2004 election marked the first time inmates were allowed to cast a ballot, thanks to a 2002 Supreme Court of Canada decision that ruled it was contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to bar prisoners from voting.
Before the decision was made, prisoners serving sentences of two years or more were barred from voting. The court ruling gave all prisoners the right to vote regardless of the length of their sentence.
Today there are about 36,000 prisoners in jails across the nation and 25 per cent of them are expected to vote.
Like other Canadians, they have beliefs and ideals they want to defend with their vote.
"Myself, I have a family, I have children and grandchildren. So I'm really concerned about their futures," said Dennis Malcolm, a convicted murdered.
But not everyone agrees that prisoners should have the right to vote. Jack McLaughlin, a victims' rights advocate whose son was murdered in 2000, believes criminals forfeit some of the privileges of citizenship.
"Prisoners should not be allowed to vote. They must give up some privileges when they go to jail," McLaughlin told CTV Winnipeg.
For the moment though, every vote counts. And if the race remains close, those votes could play a vital role in electing the next government.
