Farming Matters!

Canadians need a safe, secure

and sustainable food supply.

Ending prison farm programs hurts all of us!

The ‘Save Our Farms’ campaign was launched by the men and women who oversee, instruct and work with inmates in federal prison farm programs, members of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE-PSAC). We welcome the support of national, regional and local organizations that have an interest in a safe, secure and sustainable food supply.

What's New!!

April 19, 2010

An Open Letter to Prime Minister Harper

The Union of Solicitor General Employees is seriously calling into question your government's decision to close Canada's six prison farms. We believe this decision is not in the best interest of the farm program participants, nor in the best interest of the Canadian public. (more)

March 30, 2010

Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety a great success

Yesterday's presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety were by all accounts very successful.

Of note, John Edmunds, National President of the USGE, John Leeman, former inmate and graduate of the prison farm program, Bill Flanagan, Dean of Law at Queens University, all hit home runs in an concerted effort to convince the Committee members to return to Parliament a review of the shortsighted decision to close the prison farms.(more)

March 29, 2010

John Edmunds speaking to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety

John Edmunds, National President of the USGE will be making a presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety tomorrow, March 30, 2010. The meeting is scheduled in Room 237-C in Center Block and will start at 3:30 pm.

March 22, 2010

Standing Committee on Public Safety meetings scheduled

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety has scheduled two meetings, one on March 25 and the other on March 30 to hear presentations from stakeholders on the imminent closure of the prison farms. Both meetings will be heard in Room 237-C in Center Block; the March 25 meeting starts at 3:30 pm. The time for the March 30 meeting is to be confirmed.

March 20, 2010

A great success! Canadian musicians Support Prison Farms

The concert and activism evening, held March 20, 2010 in Kingston, was a great success. Sold out, the program included a mix of passionate performers and knowledgeable speakers gathered to entertain, inform and stir the participants and our government to action. (more)

March 16, 2010

Canadian musicians banding together for the prison farms

BBQa, rallies and now concerts. The support for the prison farms remaining open keeps growing and attracting more supporters. Canadian Musicians Support Prison Farms (CMSPF) is the latest event being held to protest the impending prison farm closures by the Federal government.

(more)

January 2010

USGE President speaks at Queens University on the prison farms

John Edmunds participated in a panel discussion at Queens University where the topic was the current threat of closure of the prison farms

(more)

October 1, 2009

USGE BBQ and Rally in Ottawa a great success

The Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) is please to announce the success of its BBQ and Rally to protest the closure of Canada's six prison farms.

"We are quite pleased with the turnout of supporters for this cause," said John Edmunds, National President of the USGE. "The weather cooperated and the message is getting out."

(more)

September 21, 2009

USGE hosting Save Our Farms BBQ and Rally in Ottawa

The Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE) is please to announce the success of its BBQ and Rally to protest the closure of Canada's six prison farms.

"We are quite pleased with the turnout of supporters for this cause," said John Edmunds, National President of the USGE. "The weather cooperated and the message is getting out."Click here for the event poster.

Riverbend inmate says prison farm system not just about gaining employment skills

(Prince Albert Daily Herald) — Correctional Service Canada has deemed that closing the farm camps at minimum-security institutions will be beneficial, as inmates have no interest in farming upon release.

This is not the case. There are many benefits that CSC officials in Ottawa do not acknowledge or recognize.

A farm camp placement saves lives and souls and allows inmates the personal choice to change. The man on the street, hopefully, has found a reason for life.

My story reveals gaining life. I took a life. I have spent 26 years inside our correctional system, and I witnessed the benefits of being at the farm.
(more)

Prison farm closures show how out of touch the Government is.

(Ottawa) — The announcement by Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, that the Federal Government is pushing ahead with the closure of Canada’s prison farms shows just how out of touch this Government is.

“Minister Van Loan has made various claims in an attempt to support the farm closures,” said John Edmunds, National President of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE). “Claims that the farms lose approximately $4M per year is an unsubstantiated number. We’ve asked for a forensic audit to be performed, but have yet to receive a reply to our request.” (more)