Prior to the expiration of the contract of the Cross Gender Monitors, CAEFS expressed the concern that CSC may not be amenable to input regarding the issue of cross gender monitoring following the expiration of their mandate. Unfortunately, that was CAEFS' experience following the Commission of Inquiry Into Certain Events at the prison for Women in Kingston. Similarly, it is as a result of their experiences of CSC intransigence that judges in the Proctor, Gentles and other cases have clearly documented the need for CSC to be monitored on an ongoing basis. To quote Madam Justice Arbour,

"In terms of general correctional issues, the facts of this inquiry have revealed a disturbing lack of commitment to the ideals of justice on the part of the Correctional Service. I firmly believe that increased judicial supervision is required. The two administration of the grievance process, In both areas, the deficiencies that the facts have revealed were serious and detrimental to prisoners in every respect, including in undermining their rehabilitative prospects. There is nothing to suggest that the Service is either willing or able to reform without judicial guidance and control. "

(page 198 of the Arbour Commission Report)

b) Office of the Correctional Investigator

Nearly ten months after the Solicitor General received the annual report of the Correctional Investigator, he tabled it in Parliament on Friday, February 9,2001. It contains documentation of many of the same issues that CAEFS continues to raise regarding the use and abuse of force, segregation, classification and penitentiary placement, community release, et cetera with respect to all federal prisoners, including federally sentenced women.

c) Exchange of Services Agreement (ESA)

The ESA between the governments of Canada and British Columbia, which specifies that federally sentenced women from B.C. be imprisoned in the Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women (BCCW), is currently under review. CAEFS, represented by the Executive Director and Board member Mollie Both, attended a meeting hosted by CSC regarding the planned renewal of the ESA. In addition to clearly signalling that the CSC plans to renew the ESA without significant changes in terms of Charter protections for women or increased accountability, there were significant gaps in the information provided to participants regarding the financial and monitoring components of the Agreement.

d) Closure of the Minimum House

The Isobel McNeill House was scheduled to close on April 1, 2001. At the request of the women at the Minimum House, CAEFS will continue to support their request to be able to remain at the Minimum House as well as their position that all women require access to minimum security placements that are similarly small, provide opportunities for women to leave daily for work and other steps toward community release.