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Annual Report
2000-2001 CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF ELIZABETH
FRY SOCIETIES Priority Issues and Law Reform Initiatives We end this year and start anew with the hope and clear desire that we are collectively striving to achieve our vision and to fulfill our mandate. In many respects the gains and challenges have been no more daunting or unexpected than other years, but in other ways, especially because it is the dawn of a century, this has been a year for reflection, growth and building excitement regarding the possibilities that lie ahead of us. We enter the coming year wearing the wisdom of past work and fuelled by the excitement of the forthcoming possibilities. In this report, I will attempt to provide you with an overview of our challenges and achievements of the past and a glimpse into the future as we see it. 1. Legal Challenges a) Prisoner Voting Case In keeping with CAEFS' ongoing support for prisoner enfranchisement, including previous interventions in prisoner voting cases, CAEFS and the John Howard Society of Canada sought and obtained intervener status at the Supreme Court of Canada, in the prisoner voting case, R. v. Sauve. Historically, federal prisoners have fought for and been granted the franchise by the courts. Following such legal successes, however, the government has subsequently amended the Canada Elections Act so as to re-remove the right of federally sentenced prisoners to vote. We expect the case to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada within the coming year. b) Complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission CAEFS was extremely heartened by the decision of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. As a result of their initiative, CAEFS and several other national women's, Aboriginal and justice groups filed additional supporting documentation and several more expansive complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on International Women's Day, March 8, 2001.
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