Last week a delegation of provincial Correctional Officers, members of Components of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), travelled to Ottawa to meet with political and organizational leaders to talk about the growing problem of people with mental health problems in provincial correctional facilities.
"We know it is a big problem in the federal facilities - but it is much worse in the provincial jails,” said NUPGE National Representative Len Bush.
The issue, as well as a wide range of problems facing the provincial correctional system, were discussed in depth with Members of Parliament Don Davies (NDP) and Mark Holland (Liberal).
"We really appreciate the time they took to meet with us," said Bush. "They were both quite knowledgeable on the issues, responsive and I truly think heard what we had to say."
There was a commitment from all involved in the meetings to continue the dialogue in the future.
The NUPGE delegates who met in Ottawa included Len Bush (NUPGE), Hugh Gillis (NSGEU), Shelley Yeo (PEIUPSE), Eduardo Almeida (OPSEU), Sheryl Ferguson (OPSEU) and Pat Gilbertson (MGEU).