Correctional Officers from Grand Valley Institution for Women rallied today in front of MP Marwan Tabbara’s office, in Kitchener, against the PNEP. They delivered hundreds of letters signed by constituents of the riding worried about the impact of the program on the health and safety of correctional officers.
“The Prison Needle Exchange Progam, which allows needles in the cells, is a serious threat to our safety, explained Rob Finucan, Ontario Regional President of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers – CSN (UCCO-SACC-CSN). Needles can be used as weapons against correctional officers, other employees and inmates. We are here to deliver this clear message to Mr. Tabbara on behalf of the 7400 correctional officers who work in federal institutions, and hundreds of his constituents who signed our petition,” said Finucan.
For months, UCCO-SACC-CSN mobilized to raise public awareness on the program. “The government must find a solution so that our health and safety are not at risk. Handling needles is not a job for us. It is a health issue, and that’s why we believe healthcare professionals should be taking care of this”, noted Rob Finucan.
The Prison Needle Exchange Program is implemented in Grand Valley Institution for women, in Kitchener, since June 2018.