The union representing the province’s correctional officers is calling measures taken to help with retention some good first steps.

Government, in collaboration with NAPE, has announced a number of new initiatives to support the retention of correctional officers. They include double the hourly rate of pay for COs required to work on their first regularly scheduled day off from now until the end of February, and a one-time retention bonus of $2,500 to union members actively working full-time hours as of August 30, 2023.

Additional measures include $130,000 to support 13 confirmed seats for NLers pursuing a Correctional Officer Certificate at the Atlantic Police Academy in PEI, and a separate effort to train 20 new recruits in Labrador this fall.

NAPE President Jerry Earle calls the initiatives a good first step, but says more needs to be done, not the least of which is the replacement of HMP.

He says that’s part of trying to recruit in that type of environment. He’s hoping that new recruits will be able to see on the horizon the possibility of working in a better, more modern facility. Earle believes a new corrections centre will allow for better mental health and rehabilitation services that will support inmates and return them to society better than they were when they went in.