The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Hogan, QC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General:

Speaker, I am very fortunate to work with a great group of people in the Department of Justice and Public Safety, and today I would like to recognize the correctional staff for the important work that they do, day in and day out.

Each year, the first week of May is recognized as Corrections Week. It is a time to acknowledge the demanding and challenging job of correctional staff who work 24/7 to ensure that all correctional facilities in the province remain safe and secure for inmates, staff and members of the public.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional obstacles, but through it all, staff remained committed to ensuring that the inmate population and those who provide services in the facilities stayed as safe as possible and connected to ensure the proper supports were delivered. Despite these extra demands, correctional staff arrived each day with compassion, empathy and enthusiasm.

This enthusiasm is also on display through the participation of corrections staff in many community activities that aim to make the province a better place to live and help some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge our government’s investments in infrastructure for the construction of the new correctional facility that will replace Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and the extension of the Labrador Correctional Facility. These projects will provide a better place of work for our correctional staff, and  more opportunities for rehabilitation of inmates through enhanced programs and services.

I ask all Honourable members to join me in thanking our correctional staff for their service and contribution in their workplaces and in their communities to support the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.