At an announcement regarding the electronic monitoring of federal offenders

Remarks by the
Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 11, 2008
As Delivered

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your attendance today and for your interest. It's an honour to be here with my colleague, provincial Minister Goucher (Len Goucher, Minister of Immigration for Nova Scotia). I'm here to further an announcement that I made this morning in Toronto regarding a pilot project that we are introducing. I would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the Government of Nova Scotia in this particular program. They are very familiar with this project and we are drawing from their experiences. This is one of a number of ways in which federal and provincial cooperation can lead to the betterment of the quality of life for all of our citizens.

As you are probably aware, the federal Government has done a number of things since assuming office over two and a half years ago to maintain what we believe is the foremost responsibility of any government: the safety and security of its citizens. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper we have taken that mandate very seriously, not just with words but in actions. We have provided funding for more RCMP officers across the country. We've also established the Police Officers Recruitment fund from which all provinces can draw to support municipal policing, and I know that Nova Scotia is aggressively moving on that particular program.

We've increased the resources at our borders. We want borders that are safe and secure, and we've put a focus on apprehending non-Canadians who have broken our laws so that they can be deported if the courts so decide. Together with the long arm of the law, we also believe in the open arms of the community. That is why we fund, through the National Crime Prevention Centre, a variety of programs across the country, including many right here in Halifax. These programs reach out to individuals at risk, especially youth who may be headed towards involvement with street gangs, drugs, and other criminal activity.

We've also looked at our prison population. As you're probably aware, the Government established an independent review panel to examine federal corrections. We've had a number of recommendations brought to us to increase the accountability of offenders, promote a sense of responsibility and to make sure our focus is on the rights of law-abiding citizens, victims and their families.

To that end, we are concerned with what happens to offenders once they're on parole through conditional release and are moved into community programs. As of August 3, 2008, there were 8,580 federal offenders on parole. Unfortunately, we know that a number of individuals on parole have reoffended or breached a condition of their parole in some way. The majority of those were minor offences. Some might have missed a curfew getting back to their residence, while others might have simply missed an appointment. But some of the breach of parole situations can be very serious.

Consequently, I am announcing today that we are starting a pilot project involving an electronic monitoring system for individuals who are serving the remainder of their sentences outside of prison. I have here the particular device that will be used. This bracelet fits around the person's ankle and is equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS). Correctional officers will be able to monitor the exact whereabouts of a particular offender at any given time.

This is very useful, for example, in the case of a sexual offender who has been released under certain conditions. Perhaps one of those conditions is to remain a certain distance from any school or playground. Before, it was very difficult to monitor that. With this type of device, correctional officers can pinpoint the location of the offender at any moment.

An offender who is not allowed to visit certain types of facilities, or who indicates that they are late getting back to their place of residence, can be tracked. It makes the job of the correctional officer more efficient. As well, in the cases where parole is breached and a police officer is called upon to find that offender, the task is much safer and much more effective.

This pilot project will involve 30 offenders. We're launching it in Ontario but we're drawing from the expertise of those involved with a program that's been established and running here in Nova Scotia for about two years. The program will be federally funded and monitored, and we are going to apply what you've learned here in Nova Scotia.

Ladies and gentlemen, we believe this program will help ensure the safety and security of our citizens. Along with that, it will increase accountability of offenders as they reintegrate into society.

Thank you very much for your support.