Evidence of meeting #127 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was offenders.
A video is available from Parliament.
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
I might switch from English to French in my answer.
In 2015, the commissioner at that time, Mr. Head, established a steering committee.
It was a steering committee on workplace mental health injuries.
It is for our employees, who are represented on this committee. We talk about what we can do.
We also have employee assistance services. Of course, when there are incidents at the institutions, we also have...
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Excuse me, my time is running out quickly. I would simply like to know if anything new has been done since the report was tabled in the fall of 2016. What happened in 2015 is fine, but have there been any further developments since the committee tabled its report?
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
We continue to implement measures. Our group meets and has devised an application to help employees with respect to mental health. We have also prepared...
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
I will have to interrupt you. I probably have a minute left at most, and I have a final question for you.
The media have reported on some very troubling cases of workplace harassment involving certain officers, and some female officers in particular.
Has your organization taken corrective measures to put an end to certain situations that occur at certain institutions?
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Absolutely. We have launched a campaign focused on respect. I don't know how much time I have left. We have created a video featuring members of the steering committee to condemn harassment and intimidation in the workplace. We have a campaign focused on respect that is designed to ensure respect in the workplace.
Further, if allegations come to light during performance evaluations, supervisors, managers and executives have to take appropriate measures immediately.
We also have a number that people can call to report issues. The calls are directed to the appropriate sector or region.
So a number of measures have been taken.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you for being here today. Congratulations on your appointment and the work that you've done. I'm looking forward to what you will do.
You mentioned in your opening remarks that the most important partners at CSC are its employees. I see we have members of both the corrections officers union and the safety and justice employees union here today. Certainly the work they do, both inside and outside all of the corrections facilities, ensures both public safety and the rehabilitation of offenders when they are released and during their release.
Can you talk a little bit about what you're going to do to ensure that your staff feel both safe and supported in their workplace?
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
First, thank you for that.
I do want to recognize the staff who are here. In my 35-year career with CSC, one thing I can say is that the staff in the Correctional Service are passionate and believe in what they do. It's an incredibly challenging job.
I am thinking of our correctional officers who are our first-line responders when there are incidents in the institutions. It's not always easy. They do it with professionalism. Our nurses as well respond to incidents, as well as our parole officers and our program officers, who work on rehabilitation and safe reintegration of our offenders; our elders; our aboriginal liaison officers; our tradespeople, and our chaplains—everybody in CSC.
It's a great organization. As I said, when we have visitors in CSC, the one thing they tell me is how passionate the staff are about what they do.
Again, in response to Mr. Dubé's question, we have launched a respectful workplace campaign to ensure that people have the kind of workplace and the kind of environment they deserve when they come to work. It's important.
We also want to ensure that when allegations are made of harassment, intimidation or bullying, they are immediately addressed. As I said, as executive committee members, we've put together a video, we've sent it out to all the regions, and we've received good feedback on it. It denounces harassment and bullying, so that's one thing in terms of a safe and supportive work environment.
We also ensure that our staff are properly equipped to do their jobs, that they have the training they require to do their jobs, and also that they have the support they require when they are unfortunately responding to incidents. Sometimes it can have an impact on our employees who are first-line responders.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
I have some other questions.
I think there is more work we need to do. I applaud you for the work you're doing, but I think we can certainly do better, and I'm sure we will.
Something you and I have talked about before is the appointment of a deputy commissioner for indigenous corrections. It was a unanimous recommendation from this committee as well as at the status of women committee and the correctional investigator.
I'm just wondering if that is something you would consider in your new role.
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Thank you for that, and I remember I also responded to that.
As part of my mandate letter, I've been asked to look at governance. It is something I'm going to do, and that's going to be part of it.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you.
A few weeks ago I went to the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon. It's a wonderful facility and we should have more of them, but it has 204 beds in total, and it's the only one of its kind in all of Canada. There are 20 beds for women and there were only eight geriatric beds. For those older patients who may have dementia or some of the ailments of geriatric offenders, certainly one of the concerns that has been brought to our attention by the corrections investigator has been the aging prison population.
I'm wondering if you can talk about what you're going to be doing to address the aging prison population that we're facing.
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Thank you, again.
Just to put it in context, I have a few statistics here. Those offenders who are incarcerated between the ages of 50 and 64, because 50 is considered to be aging, and it's—
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
I know. I have a hard time with that. I'm part of that category.
Of the 20% who are in custody who are between the ages of 50 and 64, less than 1% are women, and 3.7% are indigenous offenders. Indigenous offenders tend to be younger. Although 16.1% of the Canadian population is over 65 years of age, in CSC it's 5% who are 65 or over, of whom fewer than 1% are women and 3% are indigenous.
What we're doing is going to be conducted in two phases. The first phase is for inmates aged 65 and over. We're going to conduct functional assessments, do a review of the prevalence of chronic disease, and also look at the physical environment assessment. The second phase will be for the inmates who are between the ages of 50 and 64.
We also have an MOU with the University of Waterloo, which is expected to be signed. Once it is signed, CSC nurses will begin the assessments with those who agree to participate. The results are going to be shared with the university for analysis—not the names, though—and a geriatrician from Mount Sinai Health System will assist with the interpretation of the analysis.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Unfortunately, we're going to have to leave your response there. Thank you very much.
Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
I have just have one more sentence.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
No, Ms. Damoff was asking whether that response could be sent to the committee.
Liberal
Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, CPC
Thank you, Chair. It's great to be back.
Congratulations, Madam Kelly, on your appointment.
I just want to go over a bit of familiar ground.
You have acknowledged that under section 6 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, you serve under the direction of the minister on all matters related to the service. Is that correct?
Parry Sound—Muskoka, CPC
Is it safe to say that ministers historically, and this minister, certainly has the power to issue directives to the commissioner regarding conditions of confinement?
Chief Superintendent Fraser Macaulay Acting Senior Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
I'm just going to try to get through some of the—