sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bob Bratina, Dane Lloyd, Ed Fast, Francis Drouin, Marwan Tabbara, Pam Damoff

PRISON NEEDLE EXCHANGE UCCO-SACC-CSN PROGRAM FIGHT ON on by the courts, needles will become commonplace in our institutions. Collectively, through our mobilization efforts, we have had significant influence with our WORD employer and the federal government; however, we FROM THE NATIONAL do not have influence on court decisions. For UCCO- SACC-CSN, it is unacceptable for inmates to possess PRESIDENT needles, and we will continue to fight this matter. Corrections has heard our arguments, as has the JEFF WILKINS .

As of the beginning of May, the government announced an exemption to obtain the licence required for overdose prevention sites. While UCCO-SACC-CSN does not condone such a program, which would require inmates to visit health care services and, under the supervision of health care staff, inject their substances, Last year, the Correctional Service of Canada, in we need to put things into perspective and analyze this response to a lawsuit filed in September 2012, as a potential solution that eliminates the immediate risk implemented the Prison Needle Exchange Program for our members. However, this type of program leads to (PNEP). The lawsuit did not ask for a monetary various issues for our members, in particular, having to settlement, but instead demanded a rare ruling that turn a “blind eye” to drug use in our institutions. UCCO- would give the judge discretionary power to implement SACC-CSN will continue to analyze this program once it a needle exchange program inside our institutions. is implemented to ensure the health and safety of our members. With the implementation of the PNEP last year, Correctional Service Canada asked for a stay of decision from the judge, citing that it was implementing a program similar to that being requested in the lawsuit. This program, for which Corrections Canada failed to properly consult with UCCO-SACC-CSN, was first implemented in two institutions, Atlantic Institution in Renous, New Brunswick, and Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, . UCCO-SACC-CSN has since been actively mobilizing against this program, as it has a direct impact on the health and safety of our members and is being operationalized by correctional officers. The actions that the members of UCCO-SACC- CSN have taken are listed in this document.

The program does nothing to fulfill its purpose—to reduce harm and the spread of infectious disease. In Atlantic Institution, our members have seized “authorized” needles from cells in which they did not belong. Throughout our mobilization efforts, UCCO-SACC-CSN has maintained that harm reduction initiatives in any form should be dealt with by health care professionals, not correctional officers.

Given many recent court decisions that have changed the way in which the Correctional Service of Canada functions, as well as the roles and responsibilities of our members, there is a genuine fear that if this case is ruled APRIL 2018 MAY 2018 JUNE 2018 AUGUST 2018 SEPTEMBER 2018 OCTOBER 2018 NOVEMBER 2018 The employer informs us We still have not received Presentation of the CSN Presentation of the report We inform the employer of of the pressure that CSC is anything from the employer. research service report of the Swiss and French the conclusions of our visit under to implement a prison We give the CSN labour containing an overview of situations by the delegation to Europe and we requested needle exchange program. relations service the mandate the situation in countries that to the National Executive that a committee be formed It also mentions that it will to obtain information. have a PNEP. Committee. with the following union send us the documentation. representatives: Jason Godin, The employer advises us it is Anne Kelley and Fraser Meeting with Liberal MP Éric Thibault, Frédérick going ahead with the Prison Macaulay are absent from . Lebeau and François Enault. Meeting with Ralph Goodale, Needle Exchange Program the National Labour- A delegation of 4 people At this meeting, the request federal Minister of Public (PNEP). Management consultation is sent to Switzerland and to set up such a committee is Safety. meeting. The National France, at the expense of not favourably received. Executive Committee the CSN, to obtain all the decides to carry over the information about on-site presentation of the report to Protest against the PNEP needle exchange programs, October 4. in front of Grand Valley in anticipation of the Institution for Women. September National Labour- Management consultation meeting. Meeting with Green Party Meeting with New Democrat Leader . Meeting with Liberal MP MP Matthew Dubé. . Senator David Richards is also met with. First PNEP Committee meeting.

Demonstration in front of Meeting with Conservative Minister of Health Ginette MP Candice Bergen. Meeting with MP Alexandre Petitpas Taylor’s office. Meeting with Senator Boulerice, from the NDP. Meetings are also held with Larry Smith’s deputy and Conservative MP . National protest against Conservative MP Harold MPs and Michel the PNEP at the office of Albrecht. Picard of the Liberal Party Minister of Health Ginette and Senator Frances Lankin Petitpas Taylor in Moncton Liberal MP , are also met with, as well as and at the office of Minister Conservative MP Jim Eglinski, ’s assistant. of Public Safety Ralph and Conservative MP Pierre Meeting with Conservative Goodale in Regina. Paul-Hus’s team are also The employer agrees to form MP . met with. a committee to discuss the PNEP. HIGHLIGHTS OF A LONG Protest against the PNEP in Saskatoon at the Liberal BATTLE Caucus meeting. Meeting with Conservative MP . DECEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019 MARCH 2019 APRIL 2019 MAY 2019 JUNE 2019 Second meeting of the PNEP The employer announces that PNEP Committee Meeting Meeting with Minister Sending of a letter to the Committee. The employer it has initiated proceedings with the employer and the Petitpas Taylor’s team. Standing Committee on tells us it is ready to examine to obtain a licence to launch Local Drumheller Executive Health. the introduction of a a supervised needle injection Committee. supervised needle injection site at Drumheller Institution. site in an institution.

National PNEP demonstration in the streets Grand Valley Institution of Ottawa. correctional officers protest at MP Marwan Tabbara’s Media coverage Jason Godin and members offices in Kitchener, ON Public awareness activity The Prison Needle Exchange of the Executive Committee in Truro, NS, with petitions Program has been the meet with , signed and information subject of several leaflets who speaks about the PNEP. and dozens of posts on our Meeting with Liberal MP Pat leaflets distributed. social networks. Members Finnigan and Conservative Public awareness activity in An Atlantic team surprises of the National Executive MP . , Joliette, QC, with distribution of information leaflets. Committee have provided Minister of Health, to nearly 30 interviews in Meeting with Ginette demand that she meet with several major media outlets, Petitpas Taylor. our National President to including television, radio, discuss the PNEP and the The battle on PNEP is far and newspapers. To view health and safety issues that from being over. UCCO- the press review, visit our flow from it. SACC-CSN will not give up. website at ucco-sacc-csn.ca. Meeting with Bloc Québécois Public awareness event in MP Gabriel Sainte-Marie. Miramichi, NB, with signing Protest in Truro, NS, in front Outreach activity by of petitions and distribution of the offices of Liberal MP members of Edmonton of information leaflets. Bill Casey and meeting with Institution for Women. the MP. Visit of a supervised needle injection site with the employer in Ottawa. Public awareness event in Kitchener, ON, with petitions signed and information leaflets distributed. Meeting with Conservative Presentation by Jason Godin MP and Liberal MP Meeting with Conservative to the Senate Committee Bill Casey. MP Kelly McCauley. on Human Rights, where he speaks about the PNEP.

Filing of a petition and occupation of the office of the Minister of Justice in Montreal. Production Service des communications de la CSN, Juillet 2019 • Graphic design Philippe Brochard • Caricature Boris Photos Claude Brazeau, Daniel St-Louis, and militant contributions