Ex-Quebec justice minister says well-off convicts should pay for prison stay

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012 03:30 pm | Fannie Olivier, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Former Quebec justice minister Marc Bellemare has one way of helping the state save money: make well-to-do criminals pay for their stay behind bars.

Bellemare was in Ottawa on Wednesday to voice his support for Bill C-10, the federal Conservatives' get-tough-on-crime legislation.

His support is a stark contrast with the current Quebec justice minister, Jean-Marc Fournier, who has been consistently scathing in his criticism of the bill.

But the former cabinet minister in Premier Jean Charest's government told a Senate committee he supports the bill and says it doesn't go nearly far enough.

Bellemare wants prisoners who can afford it to pay for their incarceration. He says that's what happens in Connecticut.

"I find it unusual that a person who has committed a serious crime ... is not required to contribute," Bellemare after his appearance.

"If you can afford to pay $330 per day when you walk into a federal penitentiary, you should pay $330 per day. If not, well, you should pay what you are able to pay. But there is a financial contributory component. In my opinion, this is essential."

Bellemare was short on details, however, when members of the committee asked how the government would get the money. He said the government should at least look at the issue and see if something can be done.

NDP MP Francoise Boivin accused Bellemare of playing politics and said the idea just isn't feasible.

"This is a smokescreen that serves no purpose other than to make some political capital," she said in an interview after the hearing.

Boivin said she is worried the government might actually consider Bellemare's idea.

"So far, the Conservative government has liked very populist measures but these don't necessarily resolve the problems we are trying to address."

Bellemare also told the committee he would like to see minimum sentences for highway crimes that result in death, such as drunk driving and dangerous driving.

Story URL:

Copyright © 2010 Great West Newspapers Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. The contents of this website are protected by copyright and may be used only for your personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make use of any of this material you must first obtain permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher.