WONG-TAM: Conservatives failed to meet the deadline to implement key recommendation following the coroner’s inquest into Soleiman Faqiri’s death

TORONTO – Official Opposition NDP critic for the Attorney General, Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre) has released the following statement marking 60 days since the Ontario government received the results of the coroner’s inquest into Soleiman Faqiri’s death in an Ontario jail in 2016:

“The Faqiri family is hurting. Their loved one was killed when he needed compassionate support. The least that this government could do to honour Soleiman Faqiri’s memory would be to implement the jury’s first recommendation on time and work towards a corrections system where people in mental health crisis receive support and treatment, not violence.

“Despite multiple appeals, this government has not given any indication that they are attempting meet the deadline for these recommendations. Their silence shows a pattern of failing to follow the advice of experts, and Coroner's Inquest recommendations.”

The first of the 57 recommendations put forward by the coroner’s inquest jury was to Develop and issue a public position statement within 60 days of this verdict recognizing that correctional facilities are not an appropriate environment for persons in custody experiencing significant mental health issues.