Correctional chaplaincy services

AI summary

Petitioners cite the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Correctional Service Canada (CSC) Commissioner’s Directives, saying these recognize religious freedom and entitle inmates to reasonable opportunities to practise religion and express spirituality. They allege that Bridges of Canada, a CSC subcontractor, has reduced chaplaincy services at minimum‑security institutions and call on the Government of Canada to review the impact of funding cutbacks in CSC’s departmental plan and to ensure that all inmates in Canadian penitentiaries continue to receive tradition‑based chaplaincy services.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada WHEREAS The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms identifies religion as a fundamental freedom The CSC Commissioner's Directives state that inmates are entitled to reasonable opportunities to freely and openly participate in and express religion or spirituality Bridges of Canada, as subcontractor with Correctional Service Canada, has reduced chaplaincy services to inmates at minimum institutions We, the undersigned citizens and residents of the Province of Ontario, call upon the Government of Canada, to: Review the impact of funding cutbacks in the Departmental Plan for Correctional Service Canada Ensure that all inmates across all penitentiaries in Canada continue to receive tradition- based chaplaincy services.

Government response

No government response is available yet.