Appearance of the Commissioner before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: October 26, 2020
Minister’s Mandate Letter
Minister’s Mandate Letter
Table of Contents
- Key Facts and Figures
- Financial Snapshot
- CSC’s Hot Issues
- Committee overview
- Committee Membership Profile
At the end of fiscal year 2019-2020, CSC was responsible for 23,102 offenders: Of the offenders in the community: (Source: Data Warehouse. Data current up to the end of fiscal year 2019-2020) CSC is responsible nationally for the management of: CSC is also responsible for managing four healing lodges (included in the 43 institutions) and works in partnership with Indigenous communities to support the reintegration of Indigenous offenders back into the community. CSC employs approximately 18,000 staff from a vast number of fields. As of August 2019, CSC’s front-line staff workforce included: At year-end 2019-2020, the following are results in a number of different areas: Speaking Points: Background – COVID-19 Planning in Federal Corrections The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has successfully implemented a number of measures to protect staff and the inmate population from COVID-19. As of October 20, 2020, there are no active cases among inmates at any CSC institutions across Canada. Current Measures Cases among Inmates Since the pandemic began, out of a population of close to 13,000 inmates, 360 tested positive throughout the Spring months. All have recovered with the exception of two inmates that died as a result of complications from the virus. As of October20, 2020, out of 187 of our employees who have tested positive, 168 or 90% have fully recovered. As of October 20, 2020, there are three new cases of employees that work at Institutions across the country who have tested positive for COVID-19. Personal Protective Equipment CSC continues to take exceptional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all CSC institutions to limit the risk to inmates and staff, including having everyone at sites wear masks. Additional personal protective equipment is available to employees that need it, including health care staff. Financial Government Support On June 9, 2020, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, announced the Government of Canada’s intention to provide up to $500,000 to five National Voluntary Organizations (NVOs) for them to develop pilot projects aimed at adapting important services that assist with the reintegration of offenders under supervision at community-based residential facilities (halfway houses), and to develop knowledge to help similar organizations learn from the innovative responses that have been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Release of Offenders While being a full participant in the Canada-wide public health effort to fight COVID-19, CSC continues to fulfill its obligations with respect to the care and custody of inmates to prepare them for safe release into the community. CSC and PBC continue to process eligible inmates for release in accordance with the law. A number of considerations go into release decision-making with public safety being the paramount consideration. COVID-19 and other health related issues are only one of the many considerations taken into account when releasing offenders into the community. CSC, in consultation with PBC, has worked to streamline the case preparation process for offenders. In addition, PBC is working to ensure cases are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, while continuing to use risk- and evidence-based decision-making. Since the beginning of March 2020, the federal custody population has declined by 1,304 inmates (as of October 18, 2020). This reduction is the result of fewer admissions from the provinces and territories coupled with continued releases into the community. This downward trend in the federal inmate population is expected to continue over the coming months. CSC is engaging with our community partners on an ongoing basis to ensure that offenders on conditional release have a safe, secure and supportive environment to which they can return. This is an important part of any safe and successful release into the community. Suspension of Visits to Quebec Institutions CSC took additional measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 in its Quebec institutions and community correctional centres (CCCs). CSC suspended visits at all of its sites in the province, as well as temporary absences and work releases from institutions. Offenders will continue to participate in on-site programming and activities that support their rehabilitation. Health services will be maintained and temporary absences for medical and compassionate reasons will continue, as needed. Offenders are encouraged to continue connecting with their families and loved ones by telephone or video visitation. The additional measures do not currently affect sites in other provinces. This is an evolving situation and CSC continues to work with public health authorities to monitor the situation and take additional actions, as needed. Reduced Staffing Due to Self-Isolating Staff members at a number of CSC institutions have tested positive for COVID-19. CSC is collaborating with public health authorities to conduct contact tracing to ensure that close contacts are self-isolating at home and additional testing is conducted, as needed. CSC assesses operational decisions around schedules and activities on a regular bases when taking into consideration staffing levels. Staffing levels are monitored and assessed daily and adjusted, as required. Staff on-site are showing flexibility and some have worked extended hours to meet the operational requirements of running institutions. Speaking Points: Background – Joint National Board of Investigation Correctional Service of Canada - Parole Board of Canada Federal offender Eustachio Gallese has been serving a life sentence since December 16, 2006. He was convicted of murdering his spouse. The index offence occurred on October 21, 2004. He was first granted Day Parole (DP) on March 26, 2019. On September 19, 2019, his DP was continued while Full Parole was denied. On January 23, 2020, his DP was suspended due to his suspected involvement in another murder. He was charged and convicted of First-Degree Murder on February 27, 2020, in the death of Marylène Lévesque. Gallese remains in federal custody. Boards of Investigation Boards of Investigation (BOIs) can be convened jointly by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). BOIs can be conducted for offenders who are charged with a serious offence and when a preliminary review of the case reveals questions as to whether the law, policies or the duty to act fairly were respected. The purpose of a BOI is to identify areas of systemic concern that must be addressed, such as the need to obtain complete information, training on risk assessment and compliance with the law, policy and procedures. CSC follows up on the recommendations formulated by BOIs by analysing them and by bringing amendments and clarifications to its policy and training programs in order to reduce the likelihood of such incidents in the future. BOIs are administrative investigations that allow for a thorough review of the actions taken by the PBC/CSC. They are not criminal investigations. Gallese Joint National BOI – Current Status The Joint National CSC-PBC BOI into the events surrounding the murder of Marylène Lévesque by offender Eustachio Gallese was convened on February 3, 2020. Preparation, review work and some interviews have already been conducted by the BOI. Based on public health guidance, the COVID-19 situation forced travel, interviews, and meetings related to the work of the Board of Investigation to be suspended on March 20, 2020. Prior to the suspension of the joint investigation on March 20, 2020, the Board had conducted nine interviews. Since the BOI resumed on September 8, 2020, a total of 16 people have been interviewed, and interviews are now completed. These interviews are necessary to ensure information collection that is both comprehensive and crucial to optimizing the impartiality, integrity and transparency of the findings and recommendations of this investigation. Upon completion of the Joint National BOI, the results of the investigation will be shared along with any recommendations to be implemented. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Senior officials from PBC and CSC appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) on March 10, 2020, regarding their study on “Parole Board and the circumstances that Led to a Young Woman’s Death.”SECU reviews legislation policies, programs and expenditure plans of government departments and agencies responsible for public safety and national security, policing and law enforcement, corrections and conditional release of federal offenders, emergency management, crime prevention and the protection of Canada's borders. Parole Decision-Making Process Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) , PBC members must ensure the following when making a conditional release decision: (1) that the protection of society be the paramount consideration in the determination of any case; and, (2) that the Board make the least restrictive determination consistent with the protection of society. The CCRA outlines that the Board consider two things when granting parole: Board members conduct a thorough risk assessment in all cases. They consider all relevant and available information in assessing an offender's risk to re-offend, such as mitigating, neutral, and aggravating factors; as well as information presented during the hearing or review, in order to render a final decision. Statistics In 2018-2019, 99.9 per cent of offenders on day parole completed their supervision period without committing a violent offence. Speaking Points: Background – Overrepresentation of Specific Groups in Federal Corrections The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) continues to observe an increase in the number of federally sentenced Indigenous offenders. CSC also recognizes that there are specific needs for other ethnocultural offender populations, such as Black offenders. Indigenous Offenders CSC continues to observe an increase in the number of federally sentenced Indigenous offenders. At the end of Fiscal year 2019-2020, Indigenous offenders represented 30% of the total in custody population and Indigenous women offenders represented 44% of the total in custody women population. CSC is working to respond to the disproportionate representation of Indigenous peoples in custody, through a variety of programs such as: Decisions with respect to sentencing are outside of CSC’s control. CSC does, however, influence the time Indigenous offenders spend in custody by providing culturally responsive programs and interventions to address an Indigenous offender’s risk, provide effective rehabilitation and foster successful community reintegration. There has been a significant increase in the percentage of discretionary releases for Indigenous offenders, from 23.5% in Fiscal year 2013-2014 to 40.1% in Fiscal year 2019-2020. Additionally, CSC makes targeted efforts to recruit and retain Indigenous employees. CSC is one of the largest employers of Indigenous peoples in the core public administration. Black Offenders 8.8% of incarcerated offenders were Black at the end of 2019-20, while 7.1% of offenders supervised in the community were Black. From 2015-2016 to 2019-2020, the proportional decrease of incarcerated Caucasian offenders was 17.0%, and incarcerated Black offenders showed a decrease of 3.2% during the same period. CSC is conducting research to better understand the experience of ethnocultural offenders under its care, including Black offenders. This multi year project has already highlighted the profile and diversity of this population and Emerging Research Results were produced in 2019. CSC is presently looking at aspects of the in-custody experience, including participation in correctional programs, education, employment, etc. CSC will also be studying how ethnocultural offenders are reintegrating in the community, in terms of program participation, employment opportunities and successful completion of sentence. It is anticipated that the full research report will be available in the Fall of 2020. CSC invested $20,000 for this project, in addition to approximately a 1.5 full time employee equivalent from CSC’s Research Branch (combination of research managers, analysts and students). CSC used a combination of internal and external resources, in collaboration with Nipissing University. In addition to professional internal research capacity, CSC maintains positive collaborations with several Canadian universities for the purpose of conducting studies, researches, and reviews. This allows CSC to maintain the highest standards of research. Currently, Black offenders are offered a comprehensive level of varied interventions and services, aimed at supporting their reintegration. These initiatives include: addressing cultural employment and mentorship needs; culturally relevant presentations from community members to offenders and staff; community outreach with community service providers; ongoing interventions by the Project officer, Community Engagement and Ethnocultural Services; the purchase of culturally-relevant materials; and implementation of initiatives aimed at increasing the cultural competency of staff. Although there are no specific correctional programs for Black offenders, the enrolment and completion rates of Black offenders in the Integrated Correctional Program Model and the Women Offender Correctional Programs show positive participation. Also, certain institutions benefit from the participation and activities of inmate groups composed of mostly Black offenders. Groups such as Black Inmates and Friends Assembly (BIFA), Christian groups, Rastafarian groups, and Muslim groups bring awareness, educate and develop a sense of belonging and self-esteem among the Black offender population. Committee Overview A motion was adopted by the House of Commons on March 24, 2020, authorizing, during the period the House stands adjourned, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) to convene meetings via videoconferencing or teleconferencing. In response to that motion, Digital Services and Real Property (DSRP) established a multidisciplinary team to support these committees and deliver a solution that would allow Members to participate from remote locations. They are leveraging the same physical spaces, technological infrastructure and human resources used to support physical meetings on Parliament Hill to support virtual committee meetings. This allows the following requirements to be met: Guide for House of Commons Remote Committee Meetings House of Commons Committee Videoconference Quick Reference Guide Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: Name: Other Role(s): Riding : Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Year First Elected: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: New Democratic Party Name: Other Role(s): Riding: Province: Preferred Language: CSC Facilities in Riding: Past Profession: Statements on the Issue: 1. Key Facts and Figures on COVID-19
The Offender Population
Operational Environment
CSC Workforce
CSC Results
2. Financial Snapshot
Annual Budget
Cost Structure and Constraints
3. CSC’s Hot Issues
COVID-19 Planning for Federal Corrections
Joint National Board of Investigation Correctional Service of Canada – Parole Board of Canada
Overrepresentation of Specific Groups in Federal Corrections
4. Committee Overview
5. Committee Membership Profile
Liberal Party of Canada
John McKay
Chair of SECU
Scarborough—Guildwood
Ontario
English
Nil
1997
Canadian Lawyer and Politician
Pam Damoff
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
Oakville North—Burlington
Ontario
English
Nil
2015
Former Real Estate Developer
Angelo Iacono
Member of Library of Parliament
Alfred—Pellan
Quebec
French/English
Federal Training Centre
2011
Former Lawyer
Nil
Kamal Khera
Parliamentary Secretary of the Minister of International Development
Brampton West
Ontario
English
Nil
2015
Former registered nurse
Joël Lightbound
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Louis-Hébert
Quebec
French/English
Nil
2015
Gagan Sikand
Member of Library of Parliament
Mississauga — Streetsville
Ontario
English
Nil
2015
Former Lawyer
NilConservative Party of Canada
Shannon Stubbs
Vice-Chair of SECU
Lakeland
Alberta
English
Nil
2015
Senior Consultant for a public relations company
Damien C. Kurek
Member of Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
Battle River - Crowfoot
Alberta
English
Nil
2019
Farmer
Glen Motz
Member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
Medicine Hat – Cardston - Warner
Alberta
English
Nil
2016
Inspector
Tako Van Popta
Nil
Langley - Aldergrove
British Colombia
English
Nil
2019
Lawyer
Bloc Québécois
Kristina Michaud
Vice-Chair SECU
Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
Quebec
French
Nil
2019
Former communications professional
Jack Harris
Vice-Chair of Canada-China Relations
St. Jonh’s East
Newfoundland and Labrador
English
Newfoundland Area Office - Newfoundland and Labrador Community Correctional Centre
Year First Elected:
2008
Canadian Lawyer and Politician
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