August 26, 2009

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.”

Small farms, local businesses and charities all rely on their local prison farms to provide them with quality product at fair prices, as well as staff willing and wanting to be trained.

“Minister Van Loan believes that any training provided on the farms is 50 years behind the times” Edmunds continued. “We believe Minister Van Loan should actually take the time to talk to the workers or farmers and see exactly what is involved with running a farm. These inmates will have training and sometimes certifications in several labour categories, including forklift and chain saw operations, welding, use of power and hand tools, heavy equipment maintenance, crop and feed management, administrative, clerical and computer skills, production line work. The list goes on and on. How can the Minister continue with his blinders on?”

The USGE is holding another BBQ and Rally in the Prince Albert area on August 27 to help increase community awareness of this issue. “The community at-large has no idea that the Federal Government is cutting programs without any rhyme or reason and they need to let them know that this will not be tolerated. Elected members need to start actually listening to their constituents and this is but one way to get them to listen,” Edmunds concluded.