This letter is dated April, 22 2025,
To Superintendent Ireland.
Your immediate attention is required. This is a formal complaint again to you about the mishandling of my care in this facility. This is the third file I am opening with the ombudsman’s office.
On their advice I am addressing this complaint to you personally. The specific complaint deals with the mishandling of my democratic right as a Canadian to participate in this federal election, a right I have taken seriously since before the age of majority and the first election I took part in at the age of 19 years.
I have never missed an election since women risked everything, their marriages, family security, their life, their personal security, and even their lives for the vote . For women like me and you, to vote. I take their sacrifices seriously and voting is therefore an obligation and duty for their sacrifices, as well as my and my family’s future.
Furthermore, I find it exceptionally egregious that this facility was founded by and is named after a female humanitarian. It is time for this institution to take stock at its multiple failings, including and especially the mishandling of our democratic rights.
Perhaps if I had not made abundantly clear my intention to vote seven days before the jail’s Election Day, we might have a different conversation. However, I raised my concerns with the lack of literature and information concerning the election to Corporal Simmons on April 9, 2025, a conversation I initiated.
His only response was that he “saw some posting in the halls, and thinks it’s being held on April 16.” I reminded him that we rarely exit the range and that there should be literature in every range. I mentioned that the lack of information was undemocratic. He agreed. He said he would look further into it.
On april 11, the guards and corporals were passing each cell “looking for a missing broom” that wasn’t even missing. Corporal Simmons looked into the cell through the window and he saw me.
He then stated that he read the sign in the hall and the election or the jail was in fact, on April 16, I thanked him. On April 16, 2025 I spoke to two female inmates who got called out to vote. I immediately spoke to the officer on duty to see how it was supposed to work. The officer said they would call me when my name came up during the remainder of access and lock up. I was not called, nor were my cellmates again.
I spoke to another guard who then assured me that the election was until 9pm. When it got close to 9pm when the guard did their rounds, I asked again.
The guard told me it was going to be continued the following day, on April 17, 2025. I spoke to the guard on duty again. I was told that they would look into it, but they thought it was only held on April 16. Later that day, a corporal with very light brown hair passed the cell. I called her over and explained the above sequence of events. She stated she would look into it and get back to me. I also made it clear I wanted to vote. Later that evening, I happened to see Corporal Simmons going down the stairs. My hatch was open. I called out to him and stated, Corporal Simmons, you promised me that I was going to vote on April 16. Yet I wasn’t called.
He stopped and stated, I didn’t promise, and I responded, okay, you didn’t promise, but you told me I could vote then. And no one has gotten back to me. I want to cast my ballot.
He said, As far as he knows, the election is only held on April 16. He asked why I didn’t say anything before.
I said “I did. I spoke to every guard on duty who brushed me off and then told me it was carrying on until today. I have no control over my movement. I am in your care. I cannot do more than I did.I made it clear days in advance that I wanted to vote.”
“I bet I was the only one who spoke to you about it.”
He said “you were I wasn’t working yesterday. If I was, I could have helped.”
I say that I would like to vote. There is still time, and I would like to know why our entire cell wasn’t called to vote. He said he couldn’t get me an answer tonight. I said I wasn’t expecting it tonight. Then he said he wasn’t working the following day.
On April 20, 2025 when I was out at access, I saw Staff Sergeant Carson. I spoke to him through the hatch and relayed all of this to him. He stated he would look into it and follow up with me.
On April 22 2025 during access, I noticed the female Corporal I spoke to on April 17, she was at the guard’s desk. I waited at the red line to let the guard know I wanted to talk to her. I let the male guard know my name and the nature of my request. I saw him speak with her, and then she walked over to the other range across from ours. The female guard on duty was exiting the range, and I asked if she could check if the corporal knew I was waiting to speak to her. She closed the door and called me to the hatch. The male guard said he would tell her in a moment she was working on something.
I stood back at the red line, spoke quickly to another inmate, and was called back to the hatch, only to be told by the mail guard that the election was April 16, and it’s too late.
I said, That’s not what I asked and I wanted to speak to the corporal. He said, You got your answer.
Why did I wait until now, Ms Ireland? I have done more than I should have needed to in order to state my intention to vote, to inquire to get assistance in facilitating the vote and in ample time for this jail and i now ask you to rectify this matter. There is still six days (now two) until Election Day.
I want to cast my ballot for this federal election. It is my right. It is your duty.
Sincerely,
Deana Sherif
Otis number is enclosed, ending in 250, habeas corpus.
The voice recorded audio of this letter was cc’d to Deana’s company email, Superintendent Ireland, MPP John Fraser, MP Yaser, Naqvi, Nora Fatalipur, Chris Rudnicki, Jennifer Evans, Fatima Mogga and the ombudsman’s office. Thank you.
Audio version https://x.com/nejsnave/status/1916315554559730023?s=46
