I'm pleased to have the opportunity to appear before you today as part of your study on national protocol procedures.
At the Correctional Service of Canada, we're proud of our long and distinguished history of contributing to public safety. As you may be aware, our history dates back to 1835, and as such there's always been a sense of pride and honour associated with contributing to the public safety of Canadians.
As part of this, the Correctional Service of Canada is committed to honouring the tradition of ceremony and has taken action to ensure that this remains a priority for years to come. Today I'll provide you with a summary of the protocols or guidelines we follow within the Correctional Service of Canada.
Over the last several years, I've asked my agency to ensure that we are following proper protocols on a regional, national, and international basis. CSC is often called upon to participate in local, national, and international events, and as such we have taken steps to ensure that the participation of our staff and ceremonial units follows consistent protocols that portray a proper and respectful image of Canada and the Correctional Service of Canada.
In relation to the questions of the committee, it's important to note, Mr. Chair, that CSC does not have any formal manuals or guidebooks detailing protocols to be followed for events such as funerals or state visits. Consequently, my staff work with colleagues from the Department of Canadian Heritage as well as our partners within the Public Safety portfolio.
As you know, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Forces have well-established manuals that CSC references for such ceremonies and events. That being said, the Correctional Service of Canada has established two formal protocols, one for our change-of-command ceremonies and one for the half-masting of the national flag of Canada within CSC, which was developed in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Mr. Chair, change-of-command ceremonies are an important part of CSC's history. They represent the formal symbolic passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability of command from one correctional leader to another, whether they are wardens, regional deputy commissioners, or district directors. The ceremony provides the outgoing leader an opportunity to say goodbye to their staff and the incoming incumbent an opportunity to meet the women and men who contribute to the public safety of Canadians. By establishing proper protocols for these events, CSC has maintained an important tradition that dates back to our early history.
In addition to these protocols, CSC has developed a number of informal guidelines for our ceremonial unit. They include guidelines for the ceremonial guard as well as our volunteers in the pipes and drums unit.
Mr. Chair, if I may, I would take a few moments to talk about these important initiatives. CSC's ceremonial guard is filled on a voluntary basis. It consists of employees from across the country who often volunteer their personal time to participate in such events as graduation ceremonies, Remembrance Day parades, community events, and the national police and peace officers memorial in September. These women and men are proud of the work they do and the communities they serve on a daily basis.
CSC's pipes and drums unit is also filled on a voluntary basis by a combination of Correctional Service of Canada employees and community members. Individuals purchase their own equipment, which can cost upwards of thousands of dollars, to participate in this ceremonial group. I'm proud to have them as representatives of our organization.
It should be noted, Mr. Chair, that the safety and security of our staff, the offenders, and communities are never jeopardized as a result of staff participation in these units or ceremonial events. Decisions about attendance at events are made by the institutional head, always ensuring that the safety and security of our institutions and communities take priority over the attendance of staff at such events. In the vast majority of cases, staff actually volunteer to participate at these events on their own time.
In closing, I'm proud that CSC has made significant progress in defining the ceremonial protocols and procedures for our organization. I'm extremely proud of the work that the women and men within CSC do every day, and equally proud of how they represent the agency and Canada at events and ceremonies.
I can assure you that maintaining historical customs and following proper ceremonial protocols will continue to be of great importance to me and my organization.
Mr. Chair, I'd be happy to answer any questions you or the committee members may have.