Evidence of meeting #28 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I just want to be clear on what we don't know. We don't know how many of them are receiving old age pensions.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
We don't know how many of them have even applied for an old age pension.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
We don't know how much money this is actually going to save the federal treasury. It's not possible to say that with any kind of certainty at this point.
9:10 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
I would have to defer that to my colleagues in HRSDC; that's not a calculation we would be involved in.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
But they have no figures, other than what you give them, as to how many people are incarcerated in the penitentiaries in this country. You're the source of that information.
9:10 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
That's right. We can tell them the numbers, and I assume they would do their calculations based on what they would project those individuals would get when they reach the certain ages for the allowances and benefits they're entitled to.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Okay. Just so we're clear, though, because you're not entitled to share that information with them at this point, they don't know who those 400 people are and whether they're receiving OAS. They can't check to see who they are.
9:10 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
That's right. They just know grosso modo the number we've provided: the 400 number for age 65, and the 850 number for ages 60-plus.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
So they've made the assumption that all of those people are receiving old age payments at this point?
9:10 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
I think you would have to ask them, in terms of their calculations.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
With regard to the bill, in terms of the way they've defined or use the term “incarceration”, if they are in a halfway house--you've been released from the penitentiary and you are in a halfway house--is it your understanding that once they're released to a halfway house the pension would be reinstated?
9:10 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
Yes. In order to get to a halfway house, you're being released either on day parole or statutory release. That meets the definition of “released” in the proposed bill. Therefore, the offender would notify the minister and the payments would recommence, or start.
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
In terms of the halfway houses, are those all operated by Corrections Canada, or are most of them run by non-profit corporations?
9:15 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
The vast majority are run by NGOs. We operate 16 community correctional centres across the country--what you would call halfway houses--and then there are a couple of hundred that are operated by NGOs, such as John Howard, Elizabeth Fry, and St. Leonard's.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
With regard to the ones you operate, do you charge the residents?
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
In terms of the funds you take now, do you have a dollar figure for how much is taken from the inmates?
9:15 a.m.
Commissioner, Correctional Service Canada
We haven't rolled up the final figures for the last fiscal year, but in the last couple of years it's been $600,000 to $650,000. That includes room and board for those in the institutions and in the community.
It's between $500,000 and $650,000 for room and board. All that money goes to the consolidated revenue fund; it does not come back to the Correctional Service of Canada.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
And it has been that way since the inception of this seizure of the funds, if I can put it that way. It has always gone into the general fund; it doesn't go directly to Corrections Canada.