ASHLEY SMITH HAZE IS BEGINNING TO CLEAR

A week ago (June 12) the Waterloo Region Record carried a story titled "Ashley Smith's prison doctor grilled on instructions to guards". This article describes the cross-examination of Dr. Carolyn Rogers, Ashley Smith's physician at the Grand valley Institution. Dr. Rogers stated "If there is a ligature on you have to go in and take it off", further she added that waiting for signs of physical distress is "completely inappropriate". Also "Rogers testified she found out about the "do not enter" instructions after Ashley died, and felt like she was "kicked in the stomach.". Obviously this testimony makes the senior management at Grand valley look completely negligent regarding their orders to guards.

Speaking of management and cognizant that the inquest is not yet over, we are certainly getting a list of names of various responsible parties. Today's Waterloo Region Record has a story titled "Middle manager to testify in Ashley Smith inquest". Four names are mentioned in this story who allegedly gave instructions to delay entering ashley Smith's cell. They are Michelle Bridgen, deputy warden Joanna Pauline, Eric Broadbent and Cindy Berry the acting warden at the time. I've been following this story in the Record and what I have not seen to date is any directives from higher up the chain of command at Correctional Services Canada that would have given either feedback or validation to the local on-site management. Whether there was or not the local management certainly appear not to have been coordinating with the on-site medical doctor which I find appalling.