Mr. Speaker, this week's lesson for the solicitor general focuses on a required attitude adjustment of one of his departments, which seems to have grown beyond his control. Once again Correctional Service Canada has been criticized by one its friends, the Elizabeth Fry Society, for being arrogant and unaccountable.
In its 1999 annual report it describes Correctional Service Canada as—
—very insular, insecure yet self-righteously arrogant governmental department, where prisoners or anyone who questions CSC's actions are similarly relegated to the margins and classified as unimportant and misinformed, regardless of the seriousness and implications of the matters raised. All energies seemed to be focused upon efforts to (confuse) the issues, discredit any perceived detractors and continue on with business as usual.
This analysis comes from an organization that works extensively with CSC. These attitudes come straight from the very top. The commissioner thinks he is untouchable. It is up to the solicitor general to show this man who is the boss.