The last remaining cattle from one of Canada's last remaining prison farms were shipped away to auction today, despite the efforts of hundreds who showed up to protest the move.
According to a Globe and Mail report, more than 150 police officers faced off against several hundred protestors at the entrance of the Frontenac prison in Kingston, Ontario this morning. At least 14 people were arrested, in addition to nine who were arrested during weekend protests.
Last year, the federal government made the decision to close all six of Canada's remaining prison farms, in Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan. Approximately 300 inmates were part of the program, which provided eggs, meat and produce for the prisons themselves, and often for local food banks.
The Conservative government said the prison farm program was no longer useful and cost $4.1 million more than it generated.
But, given the increasing support for food security and zeal for local eating, the move has been widely protested.
"For the Government to be selling off prison farms at this time is disgraceful. This protest demonstrates just how much the community cares about this issue," stated NDP agriculture critic and Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko in a press release. "The Government is once again ignoring the advice of the experts. These programs have received support from local police and municipalities as well as trade unions, farm groups and food security advocates."
Last March, The National Farmers' Union requested a reversal of the decision, pointing out that the farm prison program provided nutritious food as well as rehabilitation and job training skills for inmates. The union is now concerned that the arable land once farmed in this program will be lost to urban development, as will the valuable infrastructure (abattoirs, milk processing equipment, greenhouses, cold storage) that went with it.
Writer and activist Margaret Atwood also joined the campaign to save Canada's prison farms, calling the government's decision "dumb as a stump."
Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.
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CanadianLatitude
1 year ago
I think this is terrible.
I think this is terrible. Helps rehab people and maybe they can learn a skill for when they are released. Plus the food was used for prisons and donated to local food banks. So in addition to Harper and his law and order zealots just wanting people to sit, stew and rot in a cell all day instead of being rehabilitated he is taking food out peoples mouths from those that need it the most. Shameful.
yet he can waste who knows how much on a fake lake.....
CanadianLatitude
1 year ago
I might also add.. I know
I might also add..
I know jail is punishment but one has to understand these people most of them will get out one day. Does society want them stewing and learning new criminal tricks of the trade or see that they get some rehabilitation and maybe learn some new skills so they do not return to crime when they are released?
At least in these farms inmates are working and contributing...
the real ODB
1 year ago
the lowest common denominator
Harper and co. are morons. Of course this is the worse course of action. Unless your plans are to privatize the prison system, in which case you don't want inmates rehabilitated as the new "pirate" operator will require a steady supply of "clients". Rehab, food security, life skills. These are things that matter in a progressive, democratic society. Not in a theocratic dictatorship.
When will the citizens of this country demand better?When will we elect leaders instead of CEO's? This is a country, not a business. Well, at least it used to be.
Eleanor Gregory
1 year ago
How heartless can you get?
I don't care if the farm prison program costs the amount of money it is reported to cost. I think that if the farm prison program provides nutritious food as well as rehabilitation and job training skills for inmates then it is worth the cost. I can appreciate that if inmates have the opportunity to work with their hands in the dirt, be around animals, and see things grow, their lives can change for the better.
This farm work gives inmates real skills they can apply in their lives outside of jail to be self-supporting and responsible.
crankypants
1 year ago
How much?
Harper states that these farms lose $4.1 million per year. How much will it cost to house these people in regular prisons? How much will it cost to build more prisons to accomodate the ever increasing population their law and order regime will produce in the future. Finally, how much revenue do those that sit in a regular jail cell produce?
It never ceases to amaze me how so-called intelligent people become dumber than a stump once they get elected.
morechatter
1 year ago
9.5 Billion
Is in the budget to lock Canadians up while any hope of rehabilitation is gotten out of the way as even the mentally disabled are left to kill themselves in Federal prisons is the HARPER way. This one poor girl tried to kill her self and 150 times feds gased her and beat her until they decided to just let her kill herself as were getting in trouble for gasing her so much. True story as young girl ends up in Federal pen for no good reason and ends up dead as prison turns there back on her mental illness. As listened to the proposed changes and arguments made as senate talks about its all about Eve as promises of manditory minimums are there to keep little Eve safe or at least until the offender gets out as if prison was a deterrent it would have never happened first place and with no rehabilitation says Eve better watch out.
margot
1 year ago
oakalla
I remember a press tour of Oakalla just when it was to be shut down and turned to gold as real estate. 1990-91?
Although there had been a strong farm component, then the infamous solitary stalls under the old cow barn, I don't think there was any farming left at that point. Vaguely remember a vegetable growing area. I think this was around Xmas or New Year's wasn't it?
Programs had been cut to the bone. One Catholic nun provided the education services for hundreds of prisoners.
Anyone remember more details? Growing food and caring for livestock have been shown, over and over again, to provide real benefits and confidence to people otherwise in trouble.
morechatter
1 year ago
Billions for private prisons
Is probably a matter of fact as security in this country has gone out of wack all thanks to conservatives ensuring billions gets into the pockets of private prisons is a Harper must. As what about Eve as a matter of fact as 50 beaten women on the eastside are turned away every week as violence in the province leaves Eve's future looking pretty bleak while in private prisons profits are looking up.