Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Dr. Zinger and Ms. Miron, for being here with us today. Thank you very much for your hard work in advocating and providing oversight of our correctional facilities, and certainly for advocating for the dignity of all those who are in our corrections facilities.
I recently travelled to Stony Mountain penitentiary, which is outside of my community. A number of corrections officers who are employed there are from my riding. It was my second journey to visit the penitentiary and learn more about many of the issues that you've brought up today and some of the issues that our corrections officers are facing.
An issue that they have brought up twice to me in the last three years when I have visited is the prison needle exchange program. I would appreciate your perspective on this and if you could address a number of the concerns that have been raised to me.
For those who aren't aware—of course, you are—the prison needle exchange is a program where needle kits are provided to inmates who are injecting these illegal drugs that are being smuggled in, to the benefit of criminal organizations and gangs in Canada.
One concern raised by the corrections officers is for their own safety. Of course, a needle is sort of like a tiny knife that could be used to do a number of harmful things to other inmates and to corrections officers. I would describe what I've heard as considerable fear from corrections officers at Stony Mountain penitentiary that this prison needle exchange is coming. They have concerns for their own safety and the safety of other inmates.
Can you respond to that in short form?