2022 to 2023 Citizen Advisory Committees Annual Report

From: Correctional Service Canada

ISSN: 1928-8727

The Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) are independent and impartial advisory committees that work in collaboration with, and contribute to, the mandate of Correctional Service Canada (CSC). The opinions and content expressed in this report are those of the CACs and not those of CSC. The report is published on CSC’s website for information purposes.

Overview

One of the principles articulated in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) is for Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to involve the public in its operations. CACs help CSC to fulfill this legislated mandate.

The mandate of the CACs is outlined in section 7 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations (CCRR), which gives members access to all parts of the institutions and parole offices, as well as staff and offenders. Committees are also obligated to make themselves available for discussions and consultations with the public, offenders, staff members, and CSC management.

Initiated in the early 1960s by citizens to be a bridge between prisons and the communities where they are located, CACs help CSC build stronger links between CSC and the public. They are the eyes and ears of the public in an environment otherwise closed off to most of society.

Members are citizens appointed to serve on committees in a voluntary capacity. They believe in public safety, the right of all citizens to be involved in the correctional process, and the ability of offenders to become law-abiding citizens.

CACs have 3 main roles:

• Observe: CACs are impartial observers of CSC's day-to-day operations. Members visit facilities regularly to meet with offenders, CSC officials, and staff. They help assess if offenders are getting adequate care, supervision, and services
• Liaise: CACs listen to public concerns and offer CSC a community point of view. They also help raise awareness of federal corrections in their communities and networks and promote the important work that CSC undertakes to encourage citizens to get involved
• Advise: Based on their observations, CACs give independent advice to CSC on its policies, programs, services, and operations

Summary of membership

During the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023), committees reported 268 members in 75 committees.

CAC operates at the same 3 levels as CSC. There is a CAC at

• the site level (institution and parole offices)
• 5 regional committees, and
• a national committee

The members of the regional committees are drawn from the local committees whereas the National Executive Committee (NEC) is made up of the chairs of each region.

The local committees are the heart and soul of CACs. They are supported by dedicated CSC staff and officials, without whom the committees would not be able to meet their mandate. A big thank you to all members, along with CSC staff and officials.

At a national level, the committees were represented and supported by the following individuals in 2022 to 2023:

• National Chair: Ingrid Schmidt
• Atlantic region: Donna Gardiner (CAC), Anthony Delorme (CSC) and Sherry Jackson-Smith (CSC)
• Quebec region: Josiane Despins (CAC), Marjorie Bernard (CSC)
• Ontario region: Maire Bracken (CAC), Vice Chair (CAC-NEC) and Jasmine Swadia (CSC)
• Prairie region: Michael Swait (CAC), Angela Eddy (CAC), Rich Veldoen (CAC) and Nell Hales (CSC)
• Pacific region: Tatiyanna Kolesnichenko (CAC), Reeta Shandil (CSC), Christine Walsh (CSC), and Jewell Delair (CSC)
• CSC Co-Chair: Katherine Cole

Thank you to Commissioner Anne Kelly for her continued dedication to Citizen Advisory Committees. In addition, we have been well supported by

• the Communications and Engagement sector at National Headquarters, including
  • Kirstan Gagnon, Assistant Commissioner, Communications and Engagement;
  • Katherine Cole, Director of Citizen Engagement; and
• the entire Community and Stakeholder Relations Unit, including
  • April Dorion
  • Maxime-Kalifa Sanou
  • Donat Bilomba, and
  • Corinne Potvin-Jacques

Highlights

It is important to note that given the COVID-19 situation in 2022 to 2023, CACs were limited, at times, in fully engaging in their usual variety of activities to carry out their mandate. Nevertheless, the work continued throughout the year, and highlights are presented below.

Membership recruitment and retention continue to be of concern in all regions and is carefully monitored. CACs ideally will represent the community from which the incarcerated and previously incarcerated originate. More sustained efforts are required from CACs and CSC to collaborate in recruiting members representing different demographics, in particular

• younger persons
• Indigenous and
• Black representatives

We need to leverage the new videoconferencing tools with which we have now become familiar to host virtual or hybrid meetings and offer opportunities to meet outside of regular office hours to attract and accommodate members who have daytime commitments.

All regions experienced a high turnover of staff at all levels, which is observed to have an impact on CAC awareness by staff and incarcerated and formerly incarcerated alike. This also affects communications with members and can delay the processing of new member applications.

Atlantic

CSC in the Atlantic region extended invitations to CAC members to participate in presentations from

• Clinical Care
• Health and Rehabilitation programs
• Healthcare and Interventions
• Drug Strategy
• Correctional Investigator
• Chaplaincy
• Volunteer Coordinator, just to name a few

In an effort to have a greater understanding of a diverse/Ethnocultural offender population, an invitation was extended to CAC to attend an Ethnocultural Correctional Intervention Board and they have continual contact with the Project Officer, Citizen Engagement and Ethnocultural Services.

These activities have resulted in the opportunity for increased awareness of the CSC mandate in the respective communities/organizations where members reside, and increased community perspective overall as it relates to regional plans and priorities.

It was noted in more than 2 annual reports that more information, understanding, and education to CSC management, institutional and community CSC staff must be shared on the role CAC has, their responsibilities at a site or in the community and their mandate.

CAC member and former national chair Peggy Joiner has been “on loan” from an institutional site (Nova), to spearhead the formation and rejuvenation of community CACs. The focus has been a learning and rebuilding year, which saw an increase in CAC presence in community offices, an increase in overall awareness, and an increase in membership.

Members at Nova and Dorchester Institution were instrumental in conducting the Health Care interviews requested by CAC-NEC.

CAC members were involved as a third-party observer in the consultation process for the design of the new Health Centre of Excellence for Dorchester Penitentiary.

A regional AGM was successful in engaging members and increasing knowledge of emerging CSC priorities and CAC priorities and concerns. NL CAC had a very successful face-to-face 2 day meeting with several presentations and greetings from

• a/POCEES Anthony Delorme
• National CAC Chair Ingrid Schmidt, and
• District Director Nicole Smith

Quebec

The Regional Deputy Commissioner (RDC) was invited for a question-and-answer period at the Annual Regional Meeting held in November 2022. Members' questions touched on the following topics:

• the pandemic
• contraband
• inmate money
• the decline in the number of offenders in the community
• televisions for inmates
• CSC's salary resources and
• the Option Vie program

Two people were invited to the annual meeting to give a presentation on Restorative Justice. They were Rachel Desmarais, Senior Officer, Restorative Justice Division, and Serge Charbonneau, Mediator, Équijustice. The region has recorded a continuing decline in membership and accordingly, the priority was member recruitment and retention. Members listed several ideas and best practices, which were then shared with all members, site management and head office.

Guest speakers to regional meetings included:

• Stéphane Lalande, Director, East-West District of Quebec on the topic of recruiting parole officers in more remote regions
• Julie Desmarais, Regional Manager of Professional Practice in Psychology on the topic of Mental health of inmates and
• Jean-Frédéric Boulais, Director and Legal Counsel, Office of the Correctional Investigator on the role of the Office of the Correctional Investigator

The Granby CAC held a "Kitchen Assembly". This is a meeting between the CAC, members of the community and organizations to raise awareness of the CSC. The Kitchen Assembly and guest presentations helped establish partnerships between CSC and various resources, while raising awareness of the role of CACs. At the same time, the CAC's hard-earned and energetic "Did you know?” brochure, which had been endorsed by CSC regional and national authorities, was presented.

There was a marked increase in the number of Outside Review Boards convened to review offender grievances to 13 from only 2 the previous year.

Ontario

Thanks to the RDC supporting the purchase of a Zoom license, the Ontario CAC continued to host regional monthly Zoom meetings for all members to encourage new members and single-member sites, to become more engaged and build a stronger connected community.

The meetings were opportunities to network and discuss and share “best practices” from sites and address any issues or concerns that they might have. Zoom meetings were also held to discuss input on policies, address changes to the NEC Constitution, discuss local bylaws, and discuss the changes around the ORBs.

Ontario hosted meetings for institutions and communities to allow sites to connect and share information and share observations. Ontario also hosted webinars with guest speakers, including inter alia Mr. Howard Sapers, chair of the Structured Intervention Units (SIU) Implementation Advisory Panel, and invitations were extended to CAC members and community partners in all regions of Canada.

The 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was very well attended with opening remarks from our guests, Mr. Kevin Snedden/RDC, and Ingrid Schmidt/ NEC Chair.

Margaret Holland and Benjamin Leslie/ Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN) did a presentation on their inmate program “DAD Hero”. This presentation was very well received by our members in attendance, and as a result, many CACs had subsequent presentations at their home sites.

Out of this conference, Ontario built stronger networks between CAC sites, while also building stronger connections between the Regional Executive and CAC committees. Hosting an in-person conference has rejuvenated members who are eager to recruit again and overall become more active and eager to fulfill their mandate.

The opportunity was used to present “Certificates of Appreciation” to some CAC members in recognition of their years of service. Marsha Smart Vice-Chair/Institutions presented the Certificate to Johanne Hills-Beaver Creek Institution.

Figure 1: Certificates of Appreciation for years of service

An observation shared by the Ottawa CAC is to recognize the need to develop or get access to mental health support for CAC members as the subject matter that CAC members deal with can be very challenging, and the availability of help should be identified.

Prairies

Members returned to on-site meeting and activities in 2022 to 2023. There was some post-pandemic membership attrition; however, recruitment and new appointments resulted in a net-zero loss of members. Committees focused on

• Structured Intervention Units
• Indigenous Interventions
• food preparation
• Chaplaincy and
• cultural services

The Prairie CAC Council resumed the annual in-person meeting in October 2022, with the Regional Deputy Commissioner, NEC Chairperson, Regional Psychologist and Regional Administrator Indigenous Initiatives joining as guests.

The annual CAC Showcase highlighted 3 commendable CAC initiatives:

1. Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Housing Initiative for offenders on release
   Through connections with the CAC, the CMHA submitted a proposal through the National Housing Strategy for residential housing units specific for people on parole with identified mental health issues
2. Edmonton Institution Multiculturalism Event
   The CAC facilitated the involvement of 14 different ethnocultural societies and organizations to participate in an on-site multicultural event at Edmonton Institution in July 2022. Staff were able to make connections with cultural community leaders and representatives, potential CAC members, and a post-release opportunity for offenders. The EI Mental Health Team has commented on the positive impact of the event on staff morale
3. Osborne Community Correctional Centre Grocery Hampers
   When the CAC at Winnipeg Parole and Osborne CCC CAC learned that residents often arrive late in the evening or on a weekend and do not have immediate access to groceries or hygiene items, they connected CSC with the Food Hamper Program at the Salvation Army Weetamah community facility to provide starter hampers. The response to this initiative has been one of overwhelming gratitude

Prairie Region CACs provided responses to 8 Commissioner Directive consultations in 2022 to 2023. There is an identified need for the departmental policy holder to provide information sessions to CAC members when a consultation request is sent out.

The Drumheller Institution and Red Deer Parole CAC Committee highlighted the Overdose Prevention Site at Drumheller Institution:

CAC members are really impressed with the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) at Drumheller. It has had a real impact on the site and has reduced drug overdoses with the inmate population.

Pacific

Pacific region continues to excel in public engagement.

Metro Vancouver West CAC hosted its third annual webinar in November 2022, entitled "Public Safety Through Support and Accountability.” The focus was on community-based reintegration programs for "lifers", offenders convicted of sexual offences, and their families. The webinar featured 5 experts from Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. Over 400 people from around the world registered for the event.

The CAC was also represented at the 2022 World Congress on Probation and Parole, with presentations about the role of CACs and the impact of loneliness on offender reintegration.

Figure 2: Picture from the 2022 World Congress on Probation and Parole

In addition to public engagement, Pacific Region has been discussing various substantive topics, including

• contraband entering institutions
• disruption caused by the closure of some community-based residential facilities
• the need to improve offenders’ digital literacy
• the management of sexual and gender minority offenders; and
• the prevention of drug overdoses and suicide attempts

Pacific Region is encouraging greater contact between CAC members and offenders on parole.

Pacific Institution CAC sold $800 worth of Remembrance Day poppies at the facility. The local Royal Canadian Legion was grateful for this donation.

Pacific Region’s Employment Equity and Diversity Committee partnered with Citizen Engagement to host a webinar on gender diversity, held on October 18th, 2023. The webinar was facilitated by Heather McCain (they/them), founder and Executive Director of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods. Heather provided a basic overview of relevant terms and concepts in gender diversity.

Mission Institution CAC supported offenders in making donations to the community. This included “Buddy Benches”, bird houses, and picnic tables.

National highlights

The national chair continued to be part of regular meetings of CSC’s Advisory Committee on Shaping the New Normal to address COVID-19 challenges, which was initiated in the summer of 2020 and ended in March 2023.

In 2022 to 2023, the NEC held 4 virtual meetings with 1 in person meeting in Ottawa. Guest speakers at the May 2022 NEC meeting included representatives from the Union of Safety and Justice Employees, (USJE), who discussed issues related to the working conditions of food service workers. This complemented the presentation received earlier that year from CSC staff regarding the national menu.

Commissioner Anne Kelly graciously took time out of her schedule on a Saturday morning to attend the Face-to-Face meeting and respond to member concerns. This followed the release of the SIU Implementation Advisory Panel report and CSC’s response the previous day.

Despite the ongoing challenges for CACs across the country, the national chair and national executive were able to advance several initiatives, outlined below.

Figure 3: Group photo from Face-to-Face meeting with Commissioner Anne Kelly

CAC resource materials

New resource materials were also developed and shared with all members, including:

• Promotional poster for offenders about Citizen Advisory Committees
• Promotional poster for recruitment of Citizen Advisory Committee members
• Recruitment and Retention Tools document providing tips to CSC staff and CAC members
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Citizen Advisory Committee
• Thank You Card from the Citizen Advisory Committee
• Business card template for Citizen Advisory Committees’ members
• Key Information for CACs
• CAC Communication Guide
• CAC Strategies

All resources can be accessed in the “CAC Resource Centre” space on the CSC Stakeholder Collaboration Hub. All members are encouraged to have an account to access resources. More information about it can be found there.

CAC engagement in SIUs

A CAC subcommittee on SIUs was established to gain a more fulsome picture of what is occurring in SIUs. While membership is open to all CAC members, representatives from all institutions with an SIU are particularly invited to participate.

The committee is expected to provide a forum to share promising practices and challenges; and allow brainstorming of possible strategies with CSC, as needed. Parallel sessions were held in English and in French in December to introduce members to the committee under the leadership of Mrs. Margaret Rhodes (Millhaven institution).

Margaret Rhodes and Ingrid Schmidt met with CSC’s Audit and Evaluation sector in January 2023 to give feedback on member experience in SIUs. As mentioned above, the Ontario region invited Mr. Howard Sapers to present the findings of the SIU Implementation Advisory Panel and hosted Senior Deputy Commissioner Alain Tousignant who presented CSC’s response to the findings of the panel.

While COVID-19 limited the opportunity for CAC members to visit their local SIUs, with more opportunities to meet in person, there is growing interest in participating in the committee.

CAC subcommittee on Women’s Corrections

The subcommittee on Women’s Corrections held its initial meeting in March 2023. This committee is made up of interested CAC members from all sites and all regions. Terms of reference were agreed to. The committee will focus on systemic best practices as well as concerns. Professional Development will also be part of the mandate. Meetings will be held fall and winter as well as a spring professional development. New members are welcome.

Health Services

In 2019, CSC Health Services consulted with regional frontline staff and heard that a more person-centered care model and better integration of health services was desired. This prompted CSC to invite CAC members to conduct health care interviews directly with those presently receiving care, as they may be more inclined to speak with someone who is not a CSC staff member.

In early 2022, information and guidelines were distributed to CAC members to support discussions with patients in custody. The NEC is grateful to all the participants who shared their concerns and who put their trust in CAC members to report issues of concern. In all, over 60 interviews were conducted at 8 sites, a stellar task that gave our members a unique insight into the challenges faced by Health Services.

Health Services (NHQ) provided the following feedback to thank the CAC:

We want to say thank you to all members of the Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) for your commitment to engaging patients, especially in this initiative seeking feedback on health services. Sixty-nine (69) patients participated nationally, in this opportunity. Several ideas and areas for improvement were shared with us through this process. It was clear patients want to have a voice in how they receive and engage with their health care teams and providers. Without your support this information may not have been otherwise available to us in helping evolve how heaths care is structured and delivered. Again, we want to thank you for your time and support with this patient engagement initiative.

Thematic issues

Local committees are required to raise issues to their regional committee/council, which will decide if issues should be raised to the national executive. In 2022 to 2023, the following issues received particular attention.

1. Implementation of strategic plan

A single national CAC constitution was adopted by the NEC in April 2022 which also met in person in Ottawa in October 2022 to review key aspects of the CCRA, and Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 023 to propose national, regional, and local by-laws for consideration by CAC members. Strategies were elaborated for Membership. Recruitment and Retention as well as Professional Development and Training. Operationalization of the Results and Reporting strategy remains outstanding.

2. Pilot project to modernize Outside Review Board (ORB)

At the request of the CAC, NHQ offered 2 parallel information sessions in French and in English in December 2022 to discuss the concerns of CAC members who dedicate time to responding to offender grievances in accordance with CD 081 – Offender Complaints and Grievances. Many of these concerns, including the lack of feedback to the ORB committee members, remain ongoing.

The Director General of the Rights, Redress and Resolution Branch offered solutions to discuss a heavy backlog in the resolution of offender grievances, particularly arising from offenders filing multiple and frequent grievances. After extensive consultation between CAC members and with the Director General, CAC members are now invited to participate in the pilot projects. In April 2023, all institutional heads were directed to include CAC members in Complaints and Grievances Resolution Review Committee (CGRRC).

National information sessions

Throughout 2022 to 2023, NHQ organized and hosted 2 information sessions open to the full CAC membership. These sessions are aimed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of members on some of CSC’s key priorities and initiatives. In 2022 to 2023, subjects included:

• Outside Review Boards in December 2022 and
• the Prison Needle Exchange Program in February 2023

We should continue to see an increase in information sessions organized by NHQ and available for full membership participation.

2022 to 2023 James A. Murphy Award

The winner of the James A. Murphy Award was announced during National Volunteer Week (in April 2023).

Candidates were nominated from 3 regions as follows:

Atlantic

Dorchester CAC:

• Greg Martin
• Susan Amos
• David Stewart
• Perry Eldridge
• Jerry Hicks
• Father Craig O’Brien
• Gayle Keyes

An exemplary CAC setting a high bar for CACs in institutions.

Figure 4: Candidates nominated for the 2022 to 2023 James A. Murphy Award

Quebec

Christian Drouin (Montreal Metropolitan District - Longueuil), a CAC newcomer, making a difference in his local community.

Pacific

Eddy Elmer (James A Murphy award recipient), an outreach champion hosting webinars with national and international reach on important topics affecting formerly incarcerated people.

The James A. Murphy CAC Award

The James A. Murphy selection committee consisted of the following dedicated people representing all regions of Canada:

• Jim Murphy (CSC-retired)
• Paul Woodruff (Atlantic CAC)
• Ted Fillery (Québec CAC)
• David Raponi-Monk (Ontario CAC)
• Robert Goluch (Prairies CAC)
• Nell Hales (CSC), and
• Linda Ohashi (CAC) who were ably assisted by
  • Donat Bilomba, and
  • Corinne Potvin-Jacques

CACs in the public domain

CACs were mentioned in media in 2022 to 2023

• Staffing Improves at Troubled Edmonton Institution but Union Says Troubles Remain
• Prison Watchdogs Raises Concerns Again About Conditions at Edmonton Institution
• Prince George’s CAC members were guests on a local radio program (CFIS-FM) to discuss the role of CACs and encouraged community members to apply

CACs acknowledged in CSC’s Let’s Talk Express in 2022 to 2023:

• Eddy Elmer’s Webinar Vision Enabled Global Conversations about Corrections

CACs were mentioned on CSC's social media channels in 2022 to 2023:

• Congratulations to the 2022 recipient of the James A. Murphy Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Award…
• We are looking for #volunteers for our Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) in Nova Scotia…
• Our National Executive Committee of the Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC) recently met in Ottawa
• Calling all volunteers in Bathurst and Saint John, NB and in PEI!

CACs also increased their own presence on social medias in 2022 to 2023:

• The Edmonton Parole Office and Grierson Institution CAC has created a Facebook page to facilitate broader community engagement and increase awareness about special events and presentations
• The Stony Mountain Institution CAC has a Facebook page and posts “Did You Know…” postings to increase public awareness and trust

Conclusion

CAC members are grateful for the support from CSC at the regional and national level and, most importantly, at the local sites, which allows us to carry out this important mandate and contribute to public safety.

We were delighted to resume our in-person visits in 2022 to 2023 as the COVID-19 infection rates decreased and prevention and control measures eased.

In an ongoing spirit of collaboration with CSC, our members focused efforts in 2022 to 2023 on membership engagement and recruitment, participating in committees that explore the challenges of inmates in SIUs and in women’s institutions.

We look forward to continuing learning opportunities on various aspects of correctional services, including the operation of Community Residential Facilities and the promotion of healthy and productive Inmate Committees.