Evidence of meeting #92 for Public Accounts in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was programs.
A video is available from Parliament.
Interim Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
The other thing is that, when women needed to be under observation, they were placed under observation in a cell that was on the segregation range, so this is also something the Auditor General pointed out in his report. This is something CSC is addressing.
When women need to be under observation, what we are going to do is relocate those cells, so they won't be part of the segregation range.
Mrs. Wheatley can elaborate on that.
Assistant Commissioner, Health Services, Correctional Service of Canada
We did amend the policy in August, so that women with serious mental illness or significant impairment, as well as men with the same mental health needs, are now prohibited from being placed in segregation. We've worked out the information sharing, so that the information about that prohibition on an individual, case-by-case basis is available to our operational colleagues, even when health care is in its sight. The measures are put in place then to manage them under mental health observation for their own safety.
As the commissioner mentioned, we are putting together a plan to remove observation cells for mental health reasons from the segregation range. This takes into consideration the need for these offenders to have access to outside space, to intervention space, and to health care, thereby ensuring these are the appropriate environments to move them. That plan is being finalized and will take place over the upcoming years, for both men and women.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you.
I don't have any further questions from our committee members, so I will just thank you for appearing before our committee today. I know it's a subject that not only the committee is very interested in, but Canadians as well. We want to be certain that those with mental health issues in particular are given the proper needs assessments, that the information is collected in a proper way, and that it is disseminated so that we can best serve the people with those needs, including those within the confines of a penitentiary.
We'll be following with great interest as you work to meet these recommendations. We do follow up, and I'll make it very clear to you right now: We don't believe in “one and done”, one meeting and we're done. We will be following your progress very carefully and with interest, and we wish you all the best as you proceed.
Thank you for coming today. We will suspend momentarily and then we'll come back to do a couple of small pieces of committee business.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We'll move to our committee business. We're still in public.
We're pleased that Daniel Blaikie is with us here today, but he's here in the absence of Mr. Christopherson. Mr. Christopherson has gone through some tough times.
Mrs. Mendès wanted to speak to that.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I just found out from Tyler that our colleague Mr. Christopherson lost his brother last week in an unexpected manner. I think he must be going through a very difficult time. I'd like us, as a committee, to send him our condolences and our offer of support if anything is needed. Thank you very much.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much, Mrs. Mendès. I'm sure Tyler will pass that on as well. Maybe we'll see about circulating a card or something. It is always unfortunate when these things happen, especially when it's unexpected. We miss him here today.
We're now going to take just a brief moment to suspend and then we will move in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]