Justice workers represented by NUPGE seek greater role in shaping public policy
Ottawa (20 Sept. 2006) - Activists representing justice workers across Canada will meet Sept. 21-22 in Ottawa in advance of the annual Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Sunday, Sept. 24.
"It's important that the representatives of our correctional officers and youth facility workers meet to learn from one another," says James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
"These are people who work in highly dangerous and stressful environments to keep our communities safer."
Participants will discuss a range of issues important to workers in the sector as well as topics with broader implications for all Canadians.
"These professionals keenly appreciate the role that they play in protecting the public," Clancy says.
"They are deeply committed to protecting our communities by ensuring that our justice system is efficient and effective. Privatization and gaps in the application of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) are just two areas in which these workers have a highly-developed understanding of the issues and need to help shape our public debate."
As part of an ongoing effort to influence public policy and justice legislation, they will be meeting while in Ottawa with Joe Comartin, the MP from Windsor-Tecumseh who serves as justice critic for the New Democratic Party.
Clancy said timely meetings with elected officials play an important role in shaping national policy and NUPGE welcomes the chance to meet with Comartin to discuss the government's upcoming parliamentary agenda for justice issues.
Canadian Peace Officers Memorial
The annual Canadian Peace Officers Memorial will be paying tribute to the 10 police and peace officers who lost their lives over the past year while working to keep our communities safe. Their names will be added to the Memorial Honour Roll of other fallen officers on the monument located on Parliament Hill.
In 1998, the Canadian government officially proclaimed the last Sunday of each September as Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day. This Service gives Canadians an opportunity to express their appreciation for the ultimate dedication of these police and peace officers.
The National Memorial Day Service is organized by the Canadian Professional Police Association (CPPA), the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Association (CPOMA). NUPGE
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