Commissioner's update for offenders and their families: September 5, 2023

As I mentioned in my last message, we are changing my weekly messages to distribute them at the beginning of the week, instead of on Fridays.

Many CSC staff participated in Pride marches across the country during this Pride season. We have increased our efforts to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization and I am proud of our progress to support 2SLGBTQIA+ staff and offenders, particularly with our Commissioner’s Directive 100 – Gender Diverse Offenders. Everyone has a role to play in being inclusive and welcoming, and I encourage you all to make efforts towards this goal. It creates safer living environments for everyone.

As I have shared before, I want you to be able to use your money to better yourselves. That means making sure you are thinking about having some finances on hand that can help with your successful reintegration.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have waived the deductions for food, accommodation, and the Inmate Telephone System. Effective September 11, 2023, these will be indefinitely waived. This means you will not see these deductions come off your pay.

In addition, there are changes to the canteen limit, the annual transfer limit, the minimum balance in your savings account and the minimum amount of funds required for your release that will come into effect on September 11, 2023:

• The amount you can spend in the canteen is increasing from $90 to $120 per pay period, including taxes. This increase will be implemented in the next canteen cycle following September 11th.
• The annual transfer limit from your savings account to your current account will be permanently increased from $750 to $850.
• The minimum balance required in your savings account will be increased from $80 to $200. This increase will be implemented gradually over three years with the required minimum balance being as follows:
  
  • March 31, 2024: $100
  • March 31, 2025: $150
  • March 31, 2026: $200
• The amount of funds required for your release will increase from $50 to $100.

As I mentioned in my last message, we are changing my weekly messages to distribute them at the beginning of the week, instead of on Fridays.

Many CSC staff participated in Pride marches across the country during this Pride season. We have increased our efforts to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization and I am proud of our progress to support 2SLGBTQIA+ staff and offenders, particularly with our Commissioner’s Directive 100 – Gender Diverse Offenders. Everyone has a role to play in being inclusive and welcoming, and I encourage you all to make efforts towards this goal. It creates safer living environments for everyone.

As I have shared before, I want you to be able to use your money to better yourselves. That means making sure you are thinking about having some finances on hand that can help with your successful reintegration.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have waived the deductions for food, accommodation, and the Inmate Telephone System. Effective September 11, 2023, these will be indefinitely waived. This means you will not see these deductions come off your pay.

In addition, there are changes to the canteen limit, the annual transfer limit, the minimum balance in your savings account and the minimum amount of funds required for your release that will come into effect on September 11, 2023:

• The amount you can spend in the canteen is increasing from $90 to $120 per pay period, including taxes. This increase will be implemented in the next canteen cycle following September 11th.
• The annual transfer limit from your savings account to your current account will be permanently increased from $750 to $850.
• The minimum balance required in your savings account will be increased from $80 to $200. This increase will be implemented gradually over three years with the required minimum balance being as follows:
  
  • March 31, 2024: $100
  • March 31, 2025: $150
  • March 31, 2026: $200
• The amount of funds required for your release will increase from $50 to $100.