Independent External Decision-Makers

Independent External Decision Makers (IEDMs) ensure that decisions related to the confinement of an inmate in an Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) are subject to scrutiny and ongoing assessment throughout this placement. IEDMs are appointed by the Minister of Public Safety and operate at arms-length from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

Ministerial appointees

The IEDMs are independent professionals located across the country. They are lawyers, professors, and researchers with experience and knowledge in fields, such as:

Decisions and authority

As set out in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), IEDMs have binding authority under the law to determine that an inmate should not remain in an SIU, or order changes to conditions of confinement. In certain circumstances, IEDMs review cases and provide recommendations in writing to the inmate, the Correctional Investigator and the Commissioner.

IEDMs make determinations in the following specific circumstances:

Duration

Conditions of Confinement

Health Care

IEDMs review an inmate's case and make recommendations in the following circumstances:

Frequency

Request

The above circumstances are set out in sections 37.8, 37.81, 37.83 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and sections 23. 06 and 23.07 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations.

Senior Independent External Decision-Makers

Kevin Hood, Western Region

Kevin Hood was an Associate Professor with the Correctional Services program at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta for over three decades. During that time, Kevin served on many non-governmental committees and boards including the Edmonton John Howard Society and the John Howard Society of Alberta. Kevin's academic research and teaching interests are related to restorative justice, social justice, and applying international understandings of truth and reconciliation to the Canadian context. In his professional career, Kevin had many public sector roles including child protection investigations and working with youth involved in high-risk behaviours. Kevin managed the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children program for Alberta Children's Services and was the Senior Manager responsible for Crime Prevention and Restorative Justice with Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security. He was appointed as a Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019 and then as a Senior Independent External Decision Maker in August 2020.

Independent External Decision-Makers

Maryam Majedi, Vancouver

Maryam Majedi of Vancouver, BC, was Regional Manager of the Crown Counsel Victim/Witness Services in the Criminal Justice Branch and worked as a manager in the Special Prosecution office of the Ministry of Justice from 1988 to 2005. She served as a member of the Parole Board of Canada from 2005 to 2008 and 2015 to 2018. She also served as a member of the B.C. Review Board from 2016 to 2019. Ms. Majedi serves as an adjudicator/Arbitrator, Ministry of Justice, B.C. and is a member of the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. In 1972, she received her Bachelor of Arts, Law degree at the National University of Iran. Ms. Majedi has served as a board member of various organizations including the Multicultural Organization MOSAIC (Multi-lingual Orientation Services Association for Immigrant Communities), the People's Law School, the Criminal Justice Program and the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society. She was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019.

Catherine Norris, Sturgeon County

Catherine Norris was a senior manager with the Ministry of Children's Services, providing leadership to ensure Indigenous perspectives, interests, concerns and issues are considered in the development of provincial programs, policies and standards. Her role involved maintaining government to government relationships with First Nations and Métis organizations. In her 21 years with the provincial government, she held various management roles and also worked in quality assurance, issues management and front line child intervention. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in criminal justice and sociology, from the University of Winnipeg. She also served as a volunteer with the Edmonton Youth Justice Committee. She was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in May 2021.

Dennis Callihoo, Edmonton

Dennis Callihoo, Q.C. is a lawyer with experience in the areas of General Practice, In House Counsel, First Nations Governance and Adjudication. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and of Osgoode Hall Law School (1989). He served as a Senator for the University of Alberta including a six-year term with the Council for Aboriginal Initiatives. He also has served on numerous community Boards including the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, the Boyle Street Community Co-op, Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, and the Edmonton Community Legal Centre. He also currently serves as a Board member of the Ermineskin Women's Shelter Society, and the Foundation of Administrative Justice. He was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019.

Al Hilton, Regina

Al Hilton is a former career Saskatchewan Public Servant. Over a thirty-six year career, Al served as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Federal- Provincial Relations and Immigration, and Deputy Minister responsible for several portfolios, including Corrections, Public Safety and Policing; Indigenous and Northern Affairs; and Intergovernmental Relations.

On secondment to the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, Al served as a senior advisor to the Commission on Canadian federalism. Al has served on several public safety related boards and committees, as both a member and a Chair. He was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019.

Aymar Missakila, Laval

Aymar Missakila is a Montreal-based lawyer practicing in the areas of human rights, criminal law, administrative law, labour law and civil law. Since 2010, Mr. Missakila has represented clients at all levels of the Canadian justice system, including but not limited to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and many others. Mr. Missakila supervises a number of law students from three Montréal universities through their respective legal clinic(s)/volunteer program(s). Mr. Missakila studied in Montréal and, in particular, obtained his law degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019.

Myralie Roussin, Quebec City

Myralie Roussin practices criminal and penal law. In 2011, she founded the firm of Beaudry Roussin Avocats and defends individuals who are being tried for crimes and offences under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and other provincial and federal legislation. Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jeune Barreau de Québec (JBQ) and advisor to the Barreau de Québec for the fiscal year of 2018-19, she was also Chair of the JBQ's training committee and sat as an advisor on several committees of the Barreau de Québec, including the committee on custody and indexing services and the Comité de liaison avec la Cour du Québec, chambre criminelle. In addition to her practice, she taught criminal and penal law to police technique students at the CÉGEP Garneau in Québec City. During her mandate as Chair of the JBQ, she created the Mental Health Committee to establish various programs to help lawyers struggling with psychological health. Ms. Roussin has was also a speaker on various panels on mental health, legalization of cannabis and starting up a firm. She was appointed as an Independent External Decision Maker in September 2019.

Ministerial appointments

Learn more about Ministerial appointments, including current and upcoming appointment opportunities.

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