Commissioner's Speeches

Opening of Secure Unit at Joliette Institution

Remarks by:

Lucie McClung
Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada

Joliette, Quebec
April 10, 2003


Check against delivery

Good afternoon. Fellow colleagues.

It is my pleasure to be here today to mark the opening at hand of a program for women offenders. I say "program" rather than "unit" made of bricks and mortar because it is a program. We are speaking of interventions and the types of daily interactions between the Correctional Service staff at Joliette Institution and the women offenders.

This opening will enable us to implement the Intensive Intervention Strategy, as the warden mentioned a moment ago, which is required to promote change in women offenders. We are also talking about a very important step in the evolution of the correctional system for women offenders serving a federal sentence. This opening also signifies a closure - the closure of units situated in institutions that were designed for male offenders and the opening of similar units in women's institutions- as was the case in Truro, Nova Scotia and in Edmonton a few weeks ago.

Most of us, the majority of staff and people who have dedicated part of their lives to the evolution of correctional services for women, have been impatiently awaiting this day.

The management and staff at the women's unit at the Regional Reception Centre and at many other units across Canada were admirably holding the fort while these units were under construction. Despite the extremely trying conditions, they have provided support and assistance to help women offenders deal with terrible pasts and with terrible issues. The opening of the Secure Unit at Joliette Institution is the continuation of the end of women being incarcerated in institutions designed for male offenders.

As is always the case with major projects, many people were involved. I would like to recognize the management and staff here at Joliette Institution and thank them for planning the integration of the program into an already demanding program, while continuing to meet the immediate needs of a very specific population. It is not an easy task and, on behalf of all Canadians, I would like to recognize it.

I would like to also thank our stakeholders and our partners who have continuously pushed us in the right direction, pushed us to make things happen for women offenders - accomplish specific progress. You have dared to ask the difficult questions. The difficult questions are often the most important questions. I am specifically referring to union representatives at all levels, including Mr. Martel who represents the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, and to all union representatives who must focus on the interests of their members while plotting the evolution of correctional services. I am also referring to community organizations such as the Elizabeth Fry Society, the Citizens' Advisory Committees -- locally, regionally and nationally -- and representatives from the Office of the Correctional Investigator, who have also dared to ask some very difficult and very important questions.

Although we are pleased with the opening of an environment that is much more conducive to meeting the needs of this very special group of women offenders, I will admit to you that much more needs to be done. We know this; it is the nature of corrections. It is important to look beyond incarceration. In Canada, we have legislation that is very progressive - some would say too flexible - but I must tell you that it is certainly very demanding. It is not merely a question of incarceration and separation, which is the easiest aspect of correctional systems. The difficult thing is to find the key to foster change in the offenders. This is the work of our staff each day. We must look beyond incarceration. The Auditor General of Canada's report on the Reintegration of Women Offenders, which was released and introduced on April 8, 2003, states that it is important to create more options for women in the communities where they will return. We must keep our objective in mind, which is to find tangible ways for offenders to achieve their full potential as citizens.

CSC staff and our partners have proven that, no matter the enormity of the task at hand, and this is a very large task indeed, we can achieve positive results, if we work together, along with the community, to reach our main objective of ensuring public safety, our safety.

On behalf of the Correctional Service of Canada, I would like to thank you for your efforts which have allowed us to close one chapter. I anticipate a better future for women offenders in Canada and in doing so, a better future for our communities.