Therefore,
Ten times more days absence:
Agents at the Rimouski detention center have been much more often abused for a year for illness. Therefore, work accident than elsewhere in other provincial prisons, and the union sees it as the impact of a “heavy case” concentration in detainees.
The figures are striking: the number of days of absence for illness in Rimouski prison almost doubled. For example, while the days of absence for work accident have multiplied by ten over a period of almost a year.
In the case of absences for work accident. Meanwhile, they went from around twenty days in 2023-2024 to more than 200 for a part of 2024-2025.
This situation is very special since in general. Furthermore, the number of days of absence for correctional agents is rather decreased by 13% for the same period in all the prisons of Quebec ten times more days absence jurisdiction.
However. Similarly, these are preliminary data for the current year, as the Ministry of Public Security accounts for these statistics from April to March and that the data available for 2025 stopped in January.
From the Gaspé to Rimouski
“Absences are longer. Furthermore, it is often psychological,” notes the president of the union of peace agents in Quebec correctional services, Mathieu Lavoie. These are absences that are also more complicated to take care of. ”
In the case of Rimouski, Mr. Lavoie recalls that a detainee in New Carlisle prison in Gaspésie completely demolished a sector of the detention center. five years ago. This sector would still be today, still unusable.
Mathieu Lavoie, national president of the Syndicate of Peace Agents in Correctional Services of Quebec – CSN. Photo provided by the Syndicate of Peace Agents in Correctional Services of Quebec-CSN
.
“All heavy cases of the Gaspésie are therefore often transferred to Rimouski. It is always a domino effect. ”according to Mathieu Lavoie, who ensures that the vast majority of work accidents are caused by interactions with ever more violent prisoners.
“We hear more. more stories of: I know where you live, I know where your children go to school, I have people outside who could take care of it,” illustrates the president of the union.
The Ministry of Public Security (MSP). which manages 16 detention centers in Quebec, claims to have made “investments in favor of ten times more days absence the health of employees […] at the level of several programs ”.
To compensate for absences in its prisons, the MSP also says it has formed 419 new agents since September 2023.
“The MSP acts on several fronts. which range from the prevention of work accidents to the support of return to work after a long absence, including accommodation measures or by the reference to aid resources,” added the spokesperson Louise Quintin, in an exchange of emails.
Ten times more days absence
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