Public Safety committee  I would like to thank everyone who invited us to give a presentation. First, I would like to point out that I am wearing my uniform this morning because I have been a correctional officer for 25 years. I am proud to be one and to represent the union members as their national pr

Government Operations committee  I'm taking notes.

Government Operations committee  I want only to finish what I started to say. We have major bargaining issues: training, safety, hiring new staff and, of course, the pension plan. At the time, the Conservatives told us that they would be willing to talk. We are still waiting for a call from the government to see

Government Operations committee  I am taking note of it, but yes, we are at the bargaining table. I think that there was a question about that at the start. We are currently bargaining, and have been since May 31, 2010. It's going to be difficult because two things are not working in our favour. The first is tha

Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  You know, there is a minority that causes problems. I want to be clear. You are trying to make me say that the inmates are less violent than they used to be. My answer to that question is no. They are better monitored. But the structures without rehabilitation plans or programs t

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  First, the data on mental health from recent years show us that the number of mental health-related problems has increased. The Correctional Service of Canada has five centres across Canada: one in British Columbia, one in the Prairies, one in Quebec, one in Kingston and one in

Government Operations committee  Yes, we are in favour of the expansion. We are happy to see that there are more spaces, but I don't know how we are going to manage them. It's a question I don't have an answer to.

Government Operations committee  There are two statements to address. First, when you say that we will have 4,000 more correctional officers, that's not entirely true. We will not have 4,000 more correctional officers; we'll have 4,000 more employees. It won't be just correctional officers.

Government Operations committee  Your question on the inmate profile is very good and touches a little on what I just said. I have been an employee with the Correctional Service for 25 years. We have grown by offering programs, giving inmates a chance to take charge of their lives. Now, we are helping with the

Government Operations committee  We are working with the Correctional Service of Canada on recruitment. We have had a major recruitment problem in recent years because it was poorly defined. There is an aspect that needs to be protected. When we open the staffing process for correctional officers to the public,

Government Operations committee  Basically. There are a number of services. It depends on the type of inmate. If the inmate has problems with drugs or alcohol, for example, there are specific programs to help him. There are programs for inmates who have problems with spousal violence or external violence. All th