Commissioner's update for correctional employees: April 22, 2024

Last week, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, delivered the 2024 federal budget to Canadians. Budget 2024 themes include affordability measures for Canadians and investments in housing.

For CSC, we were pleased to note the Government provided support to stabilize core operations and provide essential goods and services in our facilities.

We are reviewing the budget more closely and will have more details to provide at a later date. In the meantime, I encourage all employees to visit the Budget 2024 web page to learn more:

• Budget 2024 – Fairness for Every Generation

Earth Day 2024

Today is Earth Day, which gives us the chance to reflect on the impact that our activities have on the environment. Faced with the climate crisis, now more than ever, we must recognize the urgency of our situation and act.

At CSC, we continue to do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment. We are relying on our environmental protection and sustainable development policies and practices to guide us in this. In November 2023, we published the:

• 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

I encourage you to read it, and to find ways to practice green-friendly habits in your daily living.

James A. Murphy Award

I want to congratulate Peggy Joiner from the Atlantic Region on being the recipient of the 2023 James A. Murphy Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Award. Her efforts and contribution in revitalizing CAC committees, promoting collaboration between CSC and the CACs, and ensuring members have access to the knowledge required to fulfil the CAC mandate made her the top candidate to receive the 2023 award.

• Peggy (Margaret) Joiner

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of this prestigious award, named after James A. Murphy who dedicated 38 years to community corrections.

A special thank you to all our current and past award recipients, nominees, and the CSC staff across the country for demonstrating exemplary commitment, drive, and leadership in advancing the CAC mandate.

Administrative Professionals Day

I would like to recognize the incredible commitment, ingenuity, and efforts of our colleagues who provide outstanding professional administrative support throughout CSC. What you do is integral to the successful running of our organization. It is a key part of how we keep our communities, and Canadians, safe.

This Wednesday, April 24, take a moment to thank the amazing administrative professionals you work with. Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

Passover

Passover, from April 22 to April 30, is the festival of freedom celebrated by those of the Jewish faith. Passover, also called Pesach, is a major holiday that celebrates the Jewish peoples' escape from slavery in Egypt over 3,000 years ago. It represents a universal message of freedom and redemption. The Passover holiday begins with a feast, known as the seder, with family and friends getting together to eat traditional food. To those celebrating, Chag Pesach sameach! Happy Passover!

Movement is Medicine: Walk-Run-Wheel

On May 3, the Knowledge Circle for Indigenous Inclusion is hosting an in-person and virtual event for National Day for Awareness of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day.

I invite you to participate to Movement is Medicine: Walk, Run or Wheel event, in collaboration with Indigenous employees across the federal government. This is an effort to bring awareness of the ongoing national tragedy and honor the lives of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls.

To see all event locations and to register please visit:

• Register Now

I also want to invite participants to make a donation to an Indigenous not-for-profit organization that is close to their heart, community, or region through GCWCC.

New “Prisons Inside/Out” episode: Behind the Badge: Part one (maximum security)

I am happy to share that the fourth episode of our podcast, Prisons Inside/Out, is now available:

• Episode 4: Behind the Badge: Part one (maximum security)

Thank you for your dedication and commitment through the challenging and meaningful work you carry out every day.