July 29, 2025

This episode covers a panel discussion on prison labour in Canada. Key points include that prisoner pay has been frozen at a maximum of $6.90/day since 1981, that the work prisoners do is effectively forced labour with real economic value, and that there is an ongoing legal effort to have prisoners recognized as employees with the right to unionize. Panellists include a government investigator, academics, a formerly incarcerated activist, and a labour lawyer, all arguing that the current treatment of prisoner workers is exploitative and in need of reform.