For Immediate Release
The Current Correctional Investigator Acted Quickly to Strengthen Financial Management
and Human Resources Policies and Procedures
OTTAWA, November 28, 2006 - Mr. Howard Sapers, the current Correctional
Investigator for Canada, has already acted to address many of the concerns raised
by the Auditor General, as well as started the process to recover money as recommended
in the audit report.
"I fully agree with the Auditor General's recommendations directed at the Office
of the Correctional Investigator and can report the Office has made significant
progress to address each of them. All of the Office's management control mechanisms
have been reviewed and strengthened," the current Correctional Investigator said.
Mr. Sapers also stated his Office is committed to do what is necessary and possible
to further remedy past improprieties that took place under his predecessor's administration.
To this end, the Office will fully cooperate with the Government of Canada's efforts
to identify and recover money improperly paid out and to review the need for disciplinary
measures.
Mr. Sapers moved quickly to strengthen the Office's governance, financial management,
human resources policies, and performance measurement and reporting, upon his appointment
in April, 2004.
"It was clear when I started the job two and one half years ago that management
and accountability systems should be reviewed and strengthened. To address identified
weaknesses, I requested several initiatives be developed and implemented," said
Mr. Sapers.
Working with the Treasury Board Secretariat, the new Correctional Investigator has
also secured the services of a management consultant who will be the interim Senior
Financial Officer for the Office. He will also review the Office's new financial
and human resources management procedures and advise if there is anything more that
can be done to address the recommendations of the Auditor General and ensure compliance
with Treasury Board policies. Finally, the Office will enter into a new agreement
which will detail expectations from the Department of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness as its service provider for financial and human resources management.
The Office will also support Central Agencies in the development and application
of any government-wide policy or procedural change aimed at strengthening agency
accountability frameworks. Mr. Sapers acknowledged the findings of the Auditor General
were serious and noted that, "these improprieties of the past do not alter the need
for or the mandate of an independent Correctional Investigator. I have been, and
will continue to be, committed to fulfilling my ombudsman role with integrity, diligence
and accountability."
Independent prison oversight is critical to accountability in a democratic society.
Prisons are by nature closed institutions, often far from the public eye, where
one group of people has considerable power over another. However well prisons are
run, the potential for abuse is always present. For more than 33 years, the Office
of the Correctional Investigator has played a vital role providing independent oversight
and objective investigations of offender complaints as well as making recommendations
to address systemic issues to improve Canada's prison system, and ultimately public
safety.
The Correctional Investigator is mandated by an Act of Parliament to be an independent
Ombudsman for federal offenders. This work includes ensuring that systemic areas
of concern are identified and addressed. The latest
Annual Report 2005-06, as well as the
Correctional Service of Canada's response to it, is on the Correctional
Investigator's Web site at www.oci-bec.gc.ca.
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For further information:
Ivan Zinger, LL.B., Ph.D.
Senior Policy Advisor and Legal Counsel
Office of the Correctional Investigator
(613) 990-2690