Public Safety Committee on Sept. 27th, 2018

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

That's a very important question, and unfortunately Mr. Motz has only left you 30 seconds to answer it.

[Anne Kelly]

Okay.

First of all, if they are serving a sentence of life, the authority for granting unescorted temporary absence—the first one—is the Parole Board of Canada.

As you know, even people serving a life sentence have eligibility dates for temporary absences. Once they reach those eligibility dates, again depending on the progress they've made in prison, they are eligible to request such a temporary absence. That's how this would have occurred.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Unfortunately, we'll have to leave the answer there. If you wish to be more extensive in your response to Mr. Motz, I'm sure he and the committee would appreciate any additional response you may have.

The last three minutes go to Madam Damoff, please.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I think all of us are concerned about public safety, and that's the number one priority. It is important for us to remember that almost all of the people who are in prison today will get out and become our neighbour, our co-worker. That's just a fact.

If I'm looking at public safety, what I would like to see is people being rehabilitated and not reoffending when they are released into society, so that the person living next door to me is not engaging in criminal behaviours.

I'm sure you've read the two studies that we've done. A lot of that had to do with the good work being done by employees in prisons in ensuring that these people are being released and being successful.

I want to flag one thing for you. It's the availability of identification. It's not a federal responsibility, but the issue is that when people are being released from prison, they don't have a health card, a driver's licence, picture ID, so they can't find a place to live or find a job, and it can take months. I don't expect you to necessarily answer it today, Commissioner Kelly, but it's something....

I recently was at Willow Cree, and I heard it there. I heard it from the safety and justice employees. It's a huge stumbling block to people being able to have success when they're released. I don't know if you're aware of it.

Do you want to briefly comment on what we can perhaps do to work with our provincial counterparts on it? In this day and age, we can do things online. As Scott Brison said, it seems like being Blockbuster in a Netflix world.

They have photo ID when they're in corrections. How can we work with our provincial counterparts to get that ID done before they're released, and without their having to be escorted?

[Anne Kelly]

That's a good question. It's something we've been talking about for many, many years, and it's so crucial to offenders.

I know we've reached out to the remand centres to ensure that they keep the ID if the offender has it and that it's transferred to CSC. We're also discussing it with our heads of corrections to see how we can work together.

I have a meeting with Indigenous Services Canada, because at this point in Calgary, they're going to accept the offender ID so they can get their treaty cards.

Slowly, we're trying to improve the process and ensure that offenders have the cards they require.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I would encourage you also to speak to the parole officers who are dealing with the offenders, because they are doing it on a day-to-day basis and there may be some suggestions there as well.

[Anne Kelly]

Absolutely. Thank you.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Ms. Damoff.

Thank you, Ms. Kelly, and your colleagues Mr. Motiuk and Mr. Macaulay, for your testimony here today. I hope you will see this committee as a committee that will be helpful to your future.

Again, thank you very much.

[Anne Kelly]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The meeting is adjourned.