Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 10-23-2018 2:00 PM Ideology Over Evidence? The Place of Values Within the Safe Streets and Communities Act Alyssa Holden The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Adams, Tracey L The University of Western Ontario Huey, Laura The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Alyssa Holden 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Inequality and Stratification Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, and the Theory, Knowledge and Science Commons Recommended Citation Holden, Alyssa, "Ideology Over Evidence? The Place of Values Within the Safe Streets and Communities Act" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5858. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5858 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract In the context of Canadian policymaking, the alleged ‘punitive turn’ demonstrated by the Harper government from 2006-2015 was extraordinary. Under this turn, punitiveness coincided with a rejection of empirical evidence (Kelly and Puddister, 2017; Doob and Webster, 2015 2016; Marshall, 2015; Newell, 2013 Mallea, 2010). The controversial bill, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, has been regarded as one of the most poignant examples of this rhetoric (Marshall, 2015; Newell, 2013). This thesis investigated the role of evidence and penal populism in policymaking through a content analysis of the legislative debates of the SSCA. Drawing on a neo-Weberian framework this thesis finds that the motives of state actors may be complex, balancing self interest with populism, and concerns for efficiency with moral values (White and Prentice, 2013; Stevens, 2011; Zhao, 2009; Faught 2007; Tickamyer, 1981). Keywords Policy analysis; policymaking in Canada; evidence-based policymaking; penal populism in Canada; criminal justice policy in Canada; The Safe Streets and Communities Act; Canadian exceptionalism Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. i Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................ v Chapter 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 5 2 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Theoretical views of the state ................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Weber and Neo-Weberian theory ........................................................................................ 10 2.3. A “Punitive Turn”: Canada Before and During the Harper Government ........................... 16 2.3.1 Penal Populism .............................................................................................................. 16 2.3.2 State Paternalism ........................................................................................................... 21 2.3.3 Evidence-based Policy and Politics .............................................................................. 23 2.4 The Safe Streets and Communities Act ............................................................................... 29 2.5 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 32 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 34 3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 34 3.1 Research questions ............................................................................................................... 34 3.2 Data ...................................................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Symbolic Framing ................................................................................................................ 36 3.3 Methodical Strategy ............................................................................................................. 37 3.3.1 Familiarization .............................................................................................................. 38 3.3.2 Identifying Thematic Framework ................................................................................. 38 3.3.3 Indexing ........................................................................................................................ 42 3.3.4 Interpretation ......................................................................................................................... 46 3.4 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 46 Chapter 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 48 4.0 Results ...................................................................................................................................... 48 4.1 Tables: Most Frequent Supporting and Opposing Frames ................................................... 49 Table 4.1.1: Most Frequent Supporting Frames .................................................................... 49 ii Table 4.1.2: Most Frequent Opposing Frames ....................................................................... 50 4.2 Findings – Supporting Frames ............................................................................................. 51 4.2.1 Victim advocacy ........................................................................................................... 51 4.2.2 Safer streets in Canada .................................................................................................. 53 4.2.3 Harmful Drug Production and Dealing ......................................................................... 54 4.2.4 Protecting Society from Dangerous Youth ................................................................... 56 4.2.5 Offender Responsibility, Punishment and State Paternalism ........................................ 58 4.2.6 Personal Narrative ......................................................................................................... 61 4.2.7 Bill has Been Debated at Length................................................................................... 65 4.2.8 Use of Scientific Evidence or Experts .......................................................................... 66 4.2.9 Recognizing Concern for Indigenous Communities ..................................................... 69 4.2.10 Summary of Supporting Frames ................................................................................. 71 4.3 Findings- Opposing frames .................................................................................................. 72 4.3.1 Use of Scientific Evidence or Experts .......................................................................... 72 4.3.2 Advocacy for Marginalized Populations ....................................................................... 74 4.3.3 Punitive Penal Populist Rhetoric................................................................................... 78 4.3.4 Hidden Cost of the SSCA ............................................................................................. 79 4.3.5 Canadian Exceptionalism .............................................................................................. 81 4.3.6 Prevention, Rehabilitation and State Responsibility ..................................................... 84 4.3.7 Personal Narrative ......................................................................................................... 86 4.3.8 Bill has not been Debated Enough ................................................................................ 87 4.3.9 Removal of Judge Discretion ........................................................................................ 89 4.4 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 90 Chapter 5 .......................................................................................................................................