New Math... 499 does not equal 499

 Once upon a time, math was simple. Math was math. Numbers where finite things that could not be turned into something else.

As an accounting professional, numbers are my life. They are my jam. It is how I pay my bills and support my kids. I know my numbers inside and out.

However, the Canadian justice system doesn't understand numbers. In Ontario we have something called "new math." If you are a parent of a certain age, raising kids these days, you have encountered new math. It is kinda like old math, but not quite. With new math, you have to use a different process, that causes you to jump through some mental hoops to get to the final answer. It's hard for me to explain, but I finally found the perfect example of how to explain Ontario new math.

Hypothetical situation:

If Mr. X is convicted of a crime and sentenced to 18 months less time served waiting for bail, his total sentence remaining ends up being 499 days. This is because Mr. X is credited with time in custody because he couldn't prove himself to be a productive member of society.

Mr. X is then immediately taken into custody to begin his 499 day sentence. However, Ontario new math kicks in, and Mr. X is released after less than 50 days in prison. This is because Mr. X is now appealing the guilty verdict and has a right to be out of prison during that time. (Oh, did I mention that Mr. X's crime he was convicted of is violent crime against a person. Not the first time committing the crime, just the first time being convicted.) So, now, Mr. X, who couldn't originally prove that he was a productive member of society when first arrested, now is given another chance to try and be a productive member of society and delays the completion of his sentence. 

So, in new math, Mr. X's sentence started (technically) before he was convicted (let's say 30 days waiting bail in 2021.) Then, it continued with time at conviction in 2023 (Let's say 40 days.) So, Mr X has taken 2 years to serve 70 days of a 499 day sentence.

Next up is the appeals process, which could take months (probably years.) My guess, since the first 70 days took more than 700 days to complete, the final 400 plus days will take a few years to finish, if they are finished at all.

I wonder if I can apply these new math techniques at work. Would the \CRA be okay with me filing taxes for my clients and say, oh wait, we are going to defer out tax payment because we don't like how it was calculated. Nope, CRA will charge interest and penalties on the late payment. Yet, the Canadian justice system has no interest and penalties for Mr. X delaying serving his sentence on the basis that he didn't like the sentence.

The statistics are staggering for women who do not report domestic violence crimes, and this is why. It takes too long for justice, the system is broken and designed to protect the accused, not the victim.