2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report - Supplementary Information
Response to external audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
In May 2022, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada tabled its report, entitled “Report 4-Systemic Barriers-Correctional Service Canada”. The objective of this audit was to determine whether CSC delivers correctional interventions that respond to the diversity of the offender population and support offenders’ successful reintegration into society, supported by a workforce that reflects the diversity of the offender population, with policies and practices in place for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. It focused on whether CSC’s programs respond to the diversity of the offender population to support their safe and successful return to the community.
The audit found that there was no plan or timeline in place to better reflect the diversity of the offender population in corrections staff. It further found that Indigenous and Black offenders were placed at higher security levels on admission into custody at twice the average rate of other offenders. It also found that while CSC was legally required in 2019 to provide programs and services tailored to the unique needs of offenders identifying as visible minorities, it had not updated its method to collect this information on the offender population to match that used by Statistics Canada for the Canadian population.
CSC accepted the six recommendations and has been taking steps to implement its management action plan.
