THE JAILHOUSE PHONE

The Ontario government has tabled legislation that will allow the province
to listen in and block the phone calls of prisoners. Corrections Minister
Rob Sampson says the intrusive measure is needed to give victims greater
protection and even keep drugs out of provincial jails.

"This is part of the restriction of civil liberties and it's important for
us to maintain control over the institution and the environment of the
jail," says Sampson.

On that basis, the bill might prove popular. But in reality, it amounts to
yet another unnecessary intrusion by government into the day-to-day lives
of the public and an erosion of privacy.

Whenever someone in jail makes an outside call, the person on the other
line is a free citizen. Their civil liberties must also be respected and
Sampson's proposal doesn't do that. Certainly, if drugs are making their
way into Ontario jails, then Sampson has a security problem that goes far
beyond the jailhouse pay phone.

If an institution has reasonable grounds to believe an inmate is using
phone privileges to conduct illegal business, then a court order should be
obtained for a legal wiretap. We don't need any more Big Brother. obtained
for a legal wiretap. We don't need any more Big Brother.