Human Resources Committee on Oct. 26th, 2010

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Without deductions.

[Don Head]

Without deductions.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

So what does that amount to in total per month?

[Don Head]

It's $138 a month.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

So anything over $138 is subject to withholding 25%.

[Don Head]

If the moneys come from one of those five prescribed sources in section 104.1 of the regulations. For example, if a family were to send in $500 to an offender, we would have no way of determining the source of the money other than it came from a family member, and that would just go into their savings account. So their room and board does not get applied against that $500 gift.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

So what we have is a deduction of 25% over and above the amount we just talked about.

[Don Head]

Above the $69, yes.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Then it's further limited by saying notwithstanding that you're taking 25% of the amount over and above that, that amount can't exceed $25 per week, which would mean you would never deduct more than $100 per month for room and board.

[Don Head]

As it stands at the moment, yes, the way we've described it in the commissioner's directive. The act and the regulations allow us to go further, but the commissioner's directive, which has been in effect for quite a number of years, has contained it to those figures you've described.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Back to Ms. Gagnon, when she says section 78 would address the issue of withholding old age security or supplement with respect to room and board, it really doesn't do that, because it's limited by regulation to $100 per month. So it's ineffective if you wanted to deduct the whole portion.

[Don Head]

As the commissioner's directive stands right now, you're absolutely right.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

So the only way to achieve that would be to proceed as we have with this particular bill, which addresses it completely, 100%.

[Don Head]

Yes. The intents of the room and board and the intents of this bill are two different things, but your logic is right.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

So section 78 wasn't designed specifically for the purpose of withholding old age security or guaranteed income supplement?

[Don Head]

No, it was intended to address the issue of the costs associated with food, accommodation, and work clothing.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Okay. Those are all the questions I have for this witness.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Did you want to share your time? You have one minute.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Okay.

[Rick Casson, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you.

This commissioner's directive 860 on inmate's money, is this a pretty comprehensive document, or is it pretty simple? Is this something you could share with the committee?

[Don Head]

Yes, I have a copy. We'll leave it with the committee for copies to be made for the committee members.

[Rick Casson, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

What kinds of items can a prisoner purchase in prison? Just give me an idea.

[Don Head]

Sure. In the canteen they can buy pop, chips, food items, some basic health care items such as toothpaste, antacid. They can use their moneys to buy additional clothing above and beyond the clothing we provide them.

[Rick Casson, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

But do you not supply them with items like toothpaste and soap on a regular basis?

[Don Head]

We provide them a $4 credit that allows them to purchase those items. It saves us the procurement costs of having to go out and buy these things.