Commissioner’s Update to Stakeholders: November 7, 2025
I am pleased to share some key updates since my last message.
Federal Budget
Budget 2025 outlines $13 billion in annual savings by 2028 to 2029 across more than 100 federal organizations as a result of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
For CSC, this represents a $132.2 million reduction by 2028 to 2029.
To get there, CSC will transform the way it works through greater integration of its programming and case management, better use of digital tools, and by realigning and modernising our internal services, to improve efficiency and outcomes.
In addition, operational efficiencies will be realized through efforts such as the restructuring of the Parole Officer orientation training, which will modernize delivery, tailor content, and better support new officers in their roles.
CSC’s internal services teams will refocus on critical priorities, flatten organizational structures, align with modern practices, and reduce administrative burden. This will include optimization of our office footprint and a reorganization of our regional arrangements to improve efficiency, consistency, and accountability in our work. This renewed structure and way of working will strengthen our ability to build partnerships with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments, and community organizations, and make us more agile.
We are reviewing these savings to assess what they mean for our organization. Work to implement them will only begin if the Budget has the support of Parliament, so we will share additional information with you once the House of Commons’ debate and vote have taken place.
Thank you for the work you do to support CSC and our important mandate.
New CSC Memorial
On October 29, I had the honour of attending the unveiling ceremony of the Correctional Service of Canada Memorial, which honours staff who have fallen in the line of duty. The ceremony was held at CSC’s Ontario and Nunavut Regional Headquarters and drew hundreds of attendees; CSC staff, members of the Executive Committee, community members, and the friends and families of those being honoured.
The memorial was placed in Kingston, which is the birthplace of corrections in Canada and the place our story began. It features plaques etched with the faces of the 35 fallen CSC staff members and stands on the grounds of CSC’s National Training Academy and Regional Headquarters. The site faces Kingston Penitentiary, a site that holds deep historical significance for corrections in Canada.
The plaques representing our Eastern fallen colleagues were placed on the East wing while those from Western Canada were placed on the West wing. Stones from each region have been thoughtfully incorporated to reflect the national scope of this memorial.
At the heart of the monument is a restored bell, originally from Stony Mountain Institution, CSC’s oldest operating facility. The bell rang 35 times last Wednesday, once for each staff member who lost their life in the line of duty. Let their sacrifices never be forgotten. They were our colleagues and our friends – and now anyone can go and pay tribute to them at the memorial.
It was a great privilege to be there with their family members, new recruits, colleagues and members of the community to honour them. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this moment to life with such grace and meaning. I invite you to read the latest Let’s Talk article to learn more about the memorial:
A lasting tribute: CSC unveils memorial in Kingston to honour the fallen - Canada.ca.
Office of the Correctional Investigator’s Annual Report
On October 30, the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) tabled its annual report in Parliament. This report provides an opportunity for us as an organization to reflect on how we are responding to the needs of the offenders in our care and custody.
I encourage you to read the OCI’s report, our response, and my statement.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
On August 20, Justice Canada tabled the 2025 annual progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). The Act provides a roadmap for the Government of Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples to work together to implement the Declaration based on lasting reconciliation, healing, and cooperative relations.
CSC continues to work with our Indigenous community partners who help us to:
provide culturally specific interventions and services to federally sentenced Indigenous people, and
support their safe and successful reintegration.
To learn more about the UNDA, visit:
Summary of CSC advancement: Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report 2024 to 2025
October 4 was the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. On this day, we remembered the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people who have been lost to violence.
Since 2021, CSC has made meaningful changes to answer 13 Call for Justice in the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People.
Learn more about CSC’s advancement in the following summary:
CSC’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion report
CSC released its second Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report for 2023 to 2024. It highlights the strides we have made over the past year and outlines the steps we are taking to advance anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. The report reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected and valued.
Read the report here:
United Nations Trailblazer Award
In October, Deputy Commissioner for Women, Amy Jarrette, represented CSC at events hosted by the United Nations to celebrate the UN Trailblazer Award, in New York. This award, dedicated to Women Justice and Corrections Officers, highlights the exceptional leadership in some of the world’s most complex peacekeeping and correctional environments.
Amy met with senior officials from around the world to discuss ways we can advance work on human rights and strengthen our commitment to transforming systems and communities. She also shared some insightful words during a side event on the importance of gender-responsive leadership, a priority for CSC.
30th Anniversary of Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge
In August, CSC recognized the 30th anniversary of Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (OOHL) - a significant milestone for CSC. The anniversary is especially meaningful as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Creating Choices report.
During the ceremony, attendees had the honour of hearing from Elders, A/Kikawinaw Melissa Wickenheiser, Regional Deputy Commissioner, Jason Hope, and Deputy Commissioner for Women, Amy Jarrette.
Thirty years ago, OOHL was a bold and innovative proposal in federal corrections. Created in response to the Creating Choices report, the healing lodge was designed to meet the specific needs of federally incarcerated Indigenous women as they transition back into the community. Guided by the wisdom of Elders and Indigenous communities, OOHL offers culturally sensitive programs and services to women in our care and custody. I am deeply grateful to the Elders, Indigenous communities and CSC staff who have worked together at OOHL.
New Host Platform for CSC’s Stakeholder Collaboration Hub
Since 2020, CSC’s Stakeholder Collaboration Hub (Internal link) has been a virtual space offering various stakeholder groups a secure and user-friendly environment to collaborate with CSC and amongst themselves on various subjects. Recently, CSC has moved to a new space, on the GCcollab platform.
If you are part of a committee, working group or other community stakeholder group that would like to have a shared space to engage, please contact Community and Stakeholder Relations at NHQ for more information and assistance in getting signed up: GEN-NHQ.SCH-HCI@CSC-SCC.GC.CA.
New “The Service. For Canada.” Video and Series
CSC launched a “The Service. For Canada.” Video focused on Correctional Officers, telling their stories and promoting awareness to Canadians of the hard and important work they do every day.
New CSC Instagram Account
I am happy to share that we have officially launched CSC’s Instagram account. Our Instagram is another way we are highlighting the hard and important work done on the front-line, in service for Canadians. On Instagram, you will hear directly from our employees, in their own words, as they share real experiences and personal perspectives.
I encourage you to follow us as we show Canadians who CSC is, what we do and why we are proud to do it.
Prisons Inside/Out
In Episode 16, Museum Historian Dave guides us through the evolution of federal corrections in Canada.
In Episode 17, we hear from Ashley, a Primary Worker at Nova Institution for Women in Truro, NS.
In Episode 18, we explore how education transforms lives within Canada's federal correctional institutions.
You can listen to all previous episodes of the “Prisons Inside/Out” podcast on our website here:
Policy Updates
Policy suite Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 703: Sentence Management was revised to clarify direction and strengthen the overall sentence management process, as well as to introduce new direction for the timely delivery of services.
The full list of our policies, including those updated and archived, can be found here: Commissioner's Directives.
As we continue to navigate through times of uncertainty and transition through change, it is important to remember that our collaboration is what makes us stronger. Together, we all aim to contribute towards improving the lives of the people in our care and custody, and in our communities. Thank you for your continued dedication.
“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”