Review CSC chaplaincy cuts
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to review CSC funding cuts and ensure traditional chaplaincy services continue for all inmates across Canadian penitentiaries.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would uphold inmates’ Charter‑protected freedom of religion and align practice with CSC directives by restoring reasonable opportunities to practise and express religion.
- It responds to reported reductions by a subcontractor and seeks to restore consistent, tradition‑based chaplaincy access across institutions.
- A funding review could identify harms, improve accountability for CSC contracts, and guide targeted restoration of services.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Restoring services nationwide may require new funding and could divert resources from other correctional priorities.
- A federal review and enforcing consistent services across all facilities may be administratively complex, especially with subcontracted providers.
- There may be less costly or more inclusive alternatives, such as broader spiritual or mental‑health supports, that could meet inmates’ needs without restoring traditional chaplaincy everywhere.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; 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.