Myrmidonisia
13-01-2005, 02:29
I had this sent to me by a conservative Canadian. No, that's not an oxymoron, there are a few. Isn't this hilarious and tragic, all at once?
Remind me why the US is backward and Canada is progressive? Eh? And why we are not supposed to make fun of our northern friends?
This article (http://www.ucco-sacc.csn.qc.ca/engine/Content.asp?Lang=EN&ParentID=1&SectionID=VZ7QD32T318PM) was just forwarded. I didn't believe it until I managed to find this link. If you follow the link, you have to page down quite a way.
Critics slam five-figure pension payoffs
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, OTTAWA BUREAU
In Canada, even hardened convicts get golden government handshakes. Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information reveal some federal prisoners are collecting five-figure taxpayer-funded payoffs when they hurt themselves during activities, training or work programs behind bars.
While convicts can collect weekly or monthly pension payments for life, most choose the hefty "lump sum" option. Offenders are also eligible for benefits if they've suffered an "occupational disease" in jail or "aggravated" a pre-existing condition through a prison program.
Government records on the inmate compensation program reveal dozens of claims processed over the past three years, including one for $52,372, another for $38,511 and several more for $25,000-plus.
The prisoner pension program has been operating quietly for years. Sylvain Martel, national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, hadn't heard of the program but fumed that guards have to fight "tooth and nail" to have workers compensation board claims approved for workplace injuries or post-traumatic stress.
"It's atrocious to see what we have to go through while the inmates are getting paid directly," he said.
Inmate compensation is based on the minimum wage in the province where the accident occurred and the severity of the disability. Offenders don't pay into a workplace insurance program.
Conservative justice critic Vic Toews suggested victims should get first dibs on any payments made by the Crown to offenders.
SYSTEM OPEN TO ABUSE
"If they receive compensation from the government for their injuries, they should also be responsible to their victims," he said, adding the system is open to abuse by prisoners inclined to self-inflict or fake injuries to ensure a money pot is awaiting their release.
But the Correctional Service of Canada insists all claims are carefully scrutinized to ensure they're legitimate.
"CSC evaluates the claim, and if CSC is satisfied the claim is valid, at that point it's sent to Human Resources Development Canada for further processing," said spokesman Suzanne Cobb.
Pension benefits kick in after release from the penitentiary, but must show a lump sum option is to their financial "advantage" when the payout is more than $10,000.
Remind me why the US is backward and Canada is progressive? Eh? And why we are not supposed to make fun of our northern friends?
This article (http://www.ucco-sacc.csn.qc.ca/engine/Content.asp?Lang=EN&ParentID=1&SectionID=VZ7QD32T318PM) was just forwarded. I didn't believe it until I managed to find this link. If you follow the link, you have to page down quite a way.
Critics slam five-figure pension payoffs
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, OTTAWA BUREAU
In Canada, even hardened convicts get golden government handshakes. Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information reveal some federal prisoners are collecting five-figure taxpayer-funded payoffs when they hurt themselves during activities, training or work programs behind bars.
While convicts can collect weekly or monthly pension payments for life, most choose the hefty "lump sum" option. Offenders are also eligible for benefits if they've suffered an "occupational disease" in jail or "aggravated" a pre-existing condition through a prison program.
Government records on the inmate compensation program reveal dozens of claims processed over the past three years, including one for $52,372, another for $38,511 and several more for $25,000-plus.
The prisoner pension program has been operating quietly for years. Sylvain Martel, national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, hadn't heard of the program but fumed that guards have to fight "tooth and nail" to have workers compensation board claims approved for workplace injuries or post-traumatic stress.
"It's atrocious to see what we have to go through while the inmates are getting paid directly," he said.
Inmate compensation is based on the minimum wage in the province where the accident occurred and the severity of the disability. Offenders don't pay into a workplace insurance program.
Conservative justice critic Vic Toews suggested victims should get first dibs on any payments made by the Crown to offenders.
SYSTEM OPEN TO ABUSE
"If they receive compensation from the government for their injuries, they should also be responsible to their victims," he said, adding the system is open to abuse by prisoners inclined to self-inflict or fake injuries to ensure a money pot is awaiting their release.
But the Correctional Service of Canada insists all claims are carefully scrutinized to ensure they're legitimate.
"CSC evaluates the claim, and if CSC is satisfied the claim is valid, at that point it's sent to Human Resources Development Canada for further processing," said spokesman Suzanne Cobb.
Pension benefits kick in after release from the penitentiary, but must show a lump sum option is to their financial "advantage" when the payout is more than $10,000.