Commissioner's update for offenders and their families: July 28, 2023

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

Last weekend, a torrential rainfall caused catastrophic flooding in Nova Scotia, and a state of emergency was declared on July 22. Thankfully, no CSC institutions were impacted by this situation. However, floods greatly affected the central and eastern coast of the province, including Halifax. My thoughts are with those affected directly or indirectly by these events.

August 1 is Emancipation Day, which celebrates the Slavery Abolition Act passed on August 1, 1834. It marks a significant moment in the fight for freedom for both enslaved Black and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. It is important to honour the bravery and sacrifices of those who paved the way for a better future, while also acknowledging that the fight for equality continues even today. Let us use this day to reflect on our history and educate ourselves – Embracing diversity and understanding our shared past can lead us towards a more inclusive society.

I was pleased to learn about the rewarding work being done by participants in the Collins Bay and Beaver Creek institutions’ Indigenous focussed and led Work to Give (W2G) Program. The program provides Indigenous communities with structures they need, such as:

for the community arena at Taykwa Tagamou Nation in northern Ontario.

The Indigenous offenders in the W2G program learned and developed construction and painting skills working on a project that will help kids in the community learn to skate. The participants gained a sense of pride knowing that this project would help kids build dreams of playing in the big leagues. I encourage you to take advantage of programs like this that build employable skills and lead to creative projects.

As some of you are planning for release, I wanted to inform you that applications for the second benefit of the Canada Dental Benefit opened on July 1, 2023, and applications will be accepted for eligible dental expenses until June 30, 2024. If you have questions about eligibility or how this may affect you and/or your families, please talk with your case management team.

Until justice is blind to colour, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the colour of men's skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact. - Lyndon B. Johnson 

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