Main Estimates Funding for Correctional Service of Canada

Date: February 10, 2021
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: Organization Name

Issue:

The 2021-2022 Main Estimates are expected to be tabled.

Proposed Response:

• The total funding sought by the Correctional Service of Canada in 2021-22 Main Estimates is $2,793.7M.  This represents a $239.8M increase or 8.6% over the previous year.
• The proposed increase is due to:
  • An increase in the Operating Vote of $213.6M mainly related to funding approved for Support for the Correctional Service of Canada (Budget 2020), Transforming Federal Corrections (Bill C-83) more specifically, $11.6M to pursue the implementation of the Structured Intervention Unit and $10.5M to enhance Mental Health Care for offenders.
  • Funding to support pressures related to COVID-19; and
  • An increase in the Statutory Vote of $26.2M mainly for the department’s allocation of the employer’s share of the employee benefit plan.

If pressed on Budget Distribution for Community Corrections:

• The Correctional Service of Canada is committed to strengthening community supervision by revising information collection and sharing policies and tools, and implementing new, mandatory Intimate Partner Violence training.
• Spending on Community Supervision has consistently been 11% since 2016-2017. There have been significant increases in security, health and capital spending over the last few years.

If pressed on Vulnerable Offenders:

• Addressing the needs of Vulnerable Offenders was an item approved through Budget 2017.
• As per the funding approved for this initiative in 2017-2018, funding for other operating costs is reduced by $2,496,000 between the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years.
• This reduction is specific to the CORCAN – Indigenous Offender / Employment aspect of the proposal.
• It is expected that costs related to Community industries sites established though the program will reduce over time as the initiative is established and becomes fully operational. 

Background

Vote 1 - Operating - Increase of $213.6M

• $140.1M increase related to funding approved for Support for the Correctional Service of Canada (Budget 2020);
  
• $35.3M increase related to compensation for Collective Agreement increases;
  
• $22.1M increase related to Transforming Federal Corrections (Bill C-83);
  
• $11.8M increase for critical operating requirements related to COVID-19;
  
• $8.8M increase in quasi-statutory funding related to changes in prices and volume of goods and services being procured;
• $0.7M increase related to Funding for Mental Health for Offenders and Corcan Farms (Budget 2018);
  
• ($2.5M) decrease related to funding for Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable Offenders (Budget 2017);
  
• ($2.2M) decrease to transfer funds to the Parole Board of Canada due to the establishment of an alternative cost recovery mechanism in Correctional Services Canada for the provision of Information Technology and Information Management Services;
  
• ($0.3M) decrease related to the Program and Administrative Services (PA) modernization initiative; and
  
• ($0.2M) decrease in funding for the Federal Contaminated sites Action Plan.

Statutory - Increase of $26.2M

• $23.9M increase related to the department’s allocation of the employer’s share of the employee benefit plan; and
• $2.3M increase resulting from a drawdown on the CORCAN revolving fund authority.

Vulnerable Offenders

Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable Offenders was an item approved through Budget 2017, to modernize the federal correctional system by supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of Indigenous offenders, and expanding mental health supports for inmates. As per the funding approved for this initiative in 2017-2018, funding for other operating costs is reduced by $2,496,000 between the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years.

This reduction is specific to the CORCAN – Indigenous Offender / Employment aspect of the proposal.  It is expected that costs related to Community industries sites established though the program will reduce over time as the initiative is established and becomes fully operational. It is anticipated that the initiative will generate sufficient revenue to sustain ongoing operations.

Community Supervision

In response to the Joint Board of Investigation into the death of a young woman, CSC is strengthening community supervision policies and tools so that specific elements, such as collateral contacts of the offender (employer, family members and friends) are regularly discussed during case conferences between Parole Officers and their supervisors to help continually re-assess an offender’s risk. CSC is revising its Information Collection policy to clearly define a serious offence for the purpose of information collection, specify which types of documents are required and relevant to an offender’s history, and implement a formal monitoring mechanism. CSC is also implementing new, mandatory Intimate Partner Violence training, which will become a core component of the existing Parole Officer Continuous Development Training. It will be required for all Parole Officers and their supervisors to support them in assessing and managing the risk of offenders.

Date modified:

2021-08-16