A Liberal candidate has sparked controversy after suggesting that imprisoning criminals is a “huge burden on the taxpayer,” proposing house arrest as a more cost-effective alternative.
During a debate in Cornwall last week, Liberal candidate running for Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry, Sarah Good, said the prison system was “incredibly costly” while debating Canada’s rising crime rate.
Good’s comments were made in the context of a broader discussion about Canada’s growing crime rates under the Liberals, saying that the party was “under new leadership”, which now has taken a “new direction.”
“While (Conservative incumbent candidate Eric Duncan) over here is opposed to having people on house arrest, we do have to acknowledge the fact that our prison system is incredibly costly,” said Good. “Housing somebody within the prison system is a huge burden on taxpayers, versus having them on house arrest for instance.”
Toronto lawyer Ari Goldkind responded to Good’s comments by saying that while “two things can be right at the same time, the Liberals are almost never right on anything.”
“It’s true that it’s extremely expensive to house people in jail, but what Canadian has ever cared about that expense coming out of their taxes when we know it’s a violent or serious criminal,” Goldkind told True North.
According to Goldkind, non-violent offenders, who could benefit from some social help while on house arrest, should be allowed to do so.
“There should be an availability for house arrest sentences for certain kinds of crimes. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is cheaper, it’s more pro-social and it encourages reintegration,” he said.
“But when I hear the Liberal party standing up and saying it’s too expensive…well, does that not include spending 2o million dollars on Tamara Lich’s prosecution? How about sending 100 million dollars overseas to the pronoun people?”
Goldkind called it “an empty argument” when made by a political party such as the Liberals, which has a reputation for perpetual spending but said that from a purely legal point of view, it “would be preferable” for certain kinds of people.
However, when it comes to a person who is “violent, a ticking time bomb, or somebody who has no respect for court orders,” Goldkind said he “doesn’t know a single person on the left, in the centre or on the right who would be opposed to the idea that their taxes would go to housing the dangerous and the violent.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently unveiled his anti-crime platform, pledging to implement a “three-strikes and you’re out” law that seeks to deny bail, probation, parole, and house arrest for repeat offenders.
In a video posted to X last week, Poilievre lamented the rise in crime since the Liberals formed government in 2015, blaming the crime spike on the Trudeau government’s “hug a thug” amendments to the Criminal Code, which weakened punishments for criminals.
“Since the Trudeau-Carney Liberals took power, violent crime is up by half. Gun crime up 116 per cent. Gang homicides, 78 per cent. Extortion, 357 per cent. Auto theft up 46 per cent. Human trafficking and sexual assaults against kids have roughly doubled,” said Poilievre.
Poilievre said that to prove they are no longer a danger to fellow Canadians, Poilievre plans on requiring inmates to steer clear of illicit substances and either learn of trade or pursue another form of educational attainment.
“That will ensure that offenders are only released when they are ready to become law-abiding, contributing citizens,” said Poilievre.
When asked whether or not such a law would be able to stand a Charter challenge before the court, Poilievre dismissed such concerns, claiming that criminals endanger the Section 7 rights to life, liberty, and security of others.
He also said that he would repeal the Liberals’ Bill C-5, Bill C-75, and Bill C-83 to reverse many of the measures that have weakened penalties against criminals.
Conservative MP Larry Brock responded to Good’s comments by saying she said the “quiet part out loud”
“Carney’s hug-a-thug Liberal team already voted to give house arrest to arsonists, car thieves, kidnappers—even those convicted of sexual assault,” wrote Brock.