Scott Reid

“Mr. Speaker, through CORCAN, the Correctional Service of Canada actively enhances the safety and security of our institutions and our communities. CORCAN programming does that by providing offenders with a sense of purpose, promoting pro-social behaviour and allowing them to participate in meaningful work. This reduces the risk of violence among offenders in CSC institutions, thereby benefiting the safety of other inmates as well as our correctional staff. CORCAN’s public safety benefits extend much further than within our correctional institutions, as CORCAN actively enhances public safety by providing offenders with the employment skills and experience necessary to become productive, law-abiding citizens and skilled workers when they return to their communities. We all want safer communities for our friends, our loved ones and our constituents. That is why I am proud to acknowledge that employability-related training is available at all federal institutions. This is in addition to the CORCAN-operated on-the-job training sites at 34 CSC institutions across the country and in six community-based operations. Additionally, Correctional Service Canada provides apprenticeship opportunities to offenders through certain on-the-job training assignments in institutions, as well as through the CORCAN community industries program during transitional employment. Research clearly demonstrates that offenders who are employed in their communities are less likely to reoffend and return to federal custody. This is why vocational training for offenders remains so important. Not only is it our duty to do so, but it is effective and it works. It provides offenders with knowledge and skills that are transferable to the workplace and are aligned with industry and the Canadian labour market. Vocational training also results in industry-recognized certificates that enhance the employability of offenders, thereby promoting greater rehabilitation. In fiscal year 2025-26, there were 20,714 certificates earned by offenders for their work in vocational training programs. Further, staff and contractors, and general employment services available in the community, assisted offenders under community supervision to obtain 2,425 community job placements. In response to the member opposite’s question, I would like to advise that offenders participate in training and work programs that are directly transferable and in line with the Canadian labour market. This includes areas of farming, construction, welding, manufacturing and work in the food industry, among others. These are the skills being promoted by CSC facilities, including within CORCAN.”