Thanks to the relentless work of UCCO-SACC-CSN and, SAPSCQ-CSN, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) and the Quebec correctional service have received an exemption under the Radiocommunication Act that will allow correctional services to use radio frequency jammers for drones and mobile phones. This exemption is the first of its kind in Canada to be granted to correctional institutions, previously only granted to the RCMP.
Since the start of the National Executive’s mandate, we’ve been working very hard to raise awareness public and decision maker awareness of the ever-increasing dangers of working in federal penitentiaries. We have lobbied, mobilized and been on the media, and we are happy to say that our work is bearing fruit.
Over the next few weeks, we will be working in tandem with the Correctional Service to find the right tools and, more importantly, to ensure that resources are made available to implement them correctly. Our collaborative approach with the Assistant Commissioner of Correctional Operations and the director general of security has proven to be effective and we will continue to engage with them in that manner.
Lastly, we would like to thank all the local and regional executives who, week after week, provide the important statistics which have helped shed light on the dangers our members face daily.