Disciplinary investigation leads to termination of four employees at Edmonton Institution

OTTAWA, Jan. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - As part of the disciplinary investigation into the allegations of harassment, intimidation and bullying at Edmonton Institution, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has disciplined and terminated four employees. Additional investigations are ongoing.

Over the course of several weeks, allegations of inappropriate employee conduct were brought directly to the attention of the Commissioner of Corrections by staff and inmates at Edmonton Institution.  In response to these concerns, the Commissioner directed that an investigation be conducted to ascertain the exact nature and extent of these allegations. As well, information that was brought forward also alleged that possible criminal activity may have occurred, and the Commissioner directed that the information be reported to the Edmonton Police Service.

In September 2017, CSC suspended a number of employees and contracted an investigative team, which included external members, to look into those serious allegations. The investigation determined that a number of allegations were founded, and to date, four employees have been terminated. Additional discipline hearings are still pending.

In addition, the Edmonton Police Service is currently conducting a separate, independent investigation related to the allegations of possible criminal activity at Edmonton Institution and CSC is cooperating fully with police partners.

On January 8, a new Regional Deputy Commissioner Prairie Region, France Gratton, and a new Warden, Edmonton Institution, Gary Sears, were appointed. The new leadership will continue to improve the workplace environment at Edmonton Institution, and ensuring that there is a work environment that is free of harassment, bullying and intimidation.  As well, they will provide the necessary leadership for implementing the recommendations from an independent workplace assessment that was completed in 2017.

CSC has undertaken a number of measures in recent months to improve workplace wellbeing across the organization, including the creation of a confidential tip line for employees to report misconduct, increased face to face engagement by senior management, and additional training for employees and managers to prevent and resolve inappropriate conduct.

The staff at Edmonton Institution, as well as staff in all sites across the country, deserve a workplace that is free of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

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"The result of the disciplinary process shows that we are committed to holding employees accountable for their actions. We do not tolerate employee misconduct and all allegations are thoroughly investigated regardless of the source. We are determined to improve the workplace to ensure all employees have the respectful work environment they deserve so they can perform the difficult task that they have each and every day."

- Don Head, Commissioner

Related links

• Statement - Commissioner Don Head addresses staff misconduct allegations at Edmonton Institution
• Policy on Harassment Prevention and Resolution (Treasury Board Secretariat)
• Directive on the Harassment Complaint Process (Treasury Board Secretariat)
• Government of Canada harassment prevention tools and guides

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For more information, please visit the website www.csc-scc.gc.ca.

SOURCE Correctional Services of Canada

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