COVID-19 update for offenders and their families: November 4, 2022

This content is a message to federal offenders and their families from Correctional Service Canada's (CSC's) Commissioner.

As you know, we are currently in another wave of COVID-19 and there are also several flu viruses circulating. Please keep up with our infection prevention and control measures, such as:

• washing/sanitizing our hands frequently, 
• wearing a mask when close to others, and 
• keeping our vaccinations up-to-date. 

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

On November 1, the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) released its 2021-2022 annual report. In addition to investigating individual offender complaints, the OCI also reviews and makes recommendations related to CSC's operations. We will continue to collaborate with the OCI to enhance the work we do in corrections to best support and assist all of you. If you are interested in reading this report and CSC’s response, please ask your case management team for a copy. 

These past months, I have been hearing from many of you. Thank you for taking time to write. I received a letter from an inmate who thanked me for sharing our work to build an anti-racist, diverse and inclusive organization. In a letter he wrote to the Minister of Public Safety he said: “I can assure you that she takes this matter seriously. However, she alone cannot do it. We have to change the trajectory within the Correctional Service of Canada.” He is right – I do take this matter very seriously and it is one of my top priorities, but we all have an important role to play both individually and collectively. 

To support our efforts, CSC developed an Anti-Racism Framework and Actions. We have also enhanced our capacity to respond to the needs of ethnocultural offenders. We put in place:

• 60 ethnocultural site coordinators;
• developed an ethnocultural offenders’ resource kit;
• created welcoming inmate murals in multiple languages at all institutions; and
• supported book clubs. 

For the second year, we are creating an ethnocultural calendar featuring: 

• inmate art, and 
• poetry.

We also continue to make greater use of “Day Parole – Other Location” to support ethnocultural offenders returning to their home communities or locations with increased access to relevant supports for successful reintegration. You can speak with your ethnocultural site coordinator for more information. 

These are just a few examples of our actions. I am very proud of the work that has been accomplished so far and recognize there is always more work to do. As a next step, we are developing a Black Offender Strategy to better support offenders, both in our institutions and those under supervision in the community. I am also in the process of hiring a Deputy Commissioner, Indigenous Corrections. This new position will support relationships with Indigenous peoples and help achieve coordination in addressing the issue of overrepresentation.

Veteran’s Week is from November 5 to 11. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the Veterans who served our country during times of:

• war,
• conflict, and
• peace.

Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans also play a critical role in assisting Canadians with disaster relief efforts. This past year, they helped deal with landslides, floods and wildfires across the country, as well as with the clean up and recovery efforts in the Atlantic region after Hurricane Fiona. November 8 is Indigenous Veterans’ Day, which honours Indigenous Veterans for their invaluable contributions and service overseas and at home. I would like to acknowledge all Veterans and reservists within our institutions for their service to Canadians.