Federal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter was part of Monday's panel in Steinbach

 

A number of federal political leaders were in Steinbach Monday speaking out against the announced closure of prison farms in canada. The Correctional Service of Canada announced last year it would close its six prison farms across Canada by march 2011, including the Rockwood Institution in Stoney Mountain. Federal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter was in Southeastern Manitoba Monday as part of a tour of prison farms. Easter says prison farms are a great rehabilitation tool and economic benefit. He says prisoners feeding their own institutions with fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk and meats gives them pride. John Hutton, Director of the John Howard Society is asking the federal government what sort of replacement is there for prison farms. One of the reasons given for the expected closures is that too few inmates find work in agriculture after serving their prison sentence. But Hutton says the skills prisoners learn on these farms are life skills, not only skills related to agriculture. He says the next two months will be critical in trying to prevent government from shutting down prison farms.