Updates

As we close out 2016 and reflect on the changed international political landscape, Canadians are notably worried about the state of public safety. 

On December 1st USGE met with senior management at a Correctional Services NLMCC. We had a full discussion about Parole Officer Continuous Development (POCD) training that is scheduled for this fiscal year as well as the 2017-2018 training.

As many of you may have seen in the news, the RCMP recently announced that it had settled two class-action sexual assault, harassment and bullying lawsuits with current and former employees. 

Last week, USGE launched our latest, one minute, video on Parliament Hill. This video was developed as part of USGE’s ambitious National Public Safety Campaign to ensure that more Canadians and decision-makers understand the key work USGE members do.

USGE President, Stan Stapleton, along with Nancy Peckford (USGE’s Director of Policy, Projects and Media Relations), and Zef Ordman (USGE Regional Vice President) will travel to Edmonton to meet with USGE members about disturbing reports of sexual harassment and bullying at the maximum-security Edmonton Institution.

USGE’s National President, Stan Stapleton, will be meeting with Don Head, the Commissioner of Correctional Service Canada on December 1st to discuss a number of relevant items to our membership, including the on-line training that is presently being offered to Parole Officers. 

This fall, the House Committee on Public Safety and National Security, tabled its first major report examining the mental health challenges that confront public safety employees in Canada.

For CSC members who haven’t heard, in October of 2015, CSC Commissioner Don Head announced the creation of a Steering Committee for Workplace Mental Health Injuries. The main goal of the steering committee is to examine a way forward to support staff who develop mental health injuries at CSC, as well as their families.

A couple of weeks ago Edmonton had their 1st Annual Area Council Solidarity Breakfast. Two of the guest speakers were the Honourable Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as PSAC’s REVP Marianne Hladun.

On October 31, 2016 USGE members came together in Ottawa and across the country to highlight the significant problems that many of our members are experiencing with Phoenix.