The fight to save Canada’s six prison farms made its way to Parliament Hill last week.
About 20 demonstrators, accompanied by two cows, used the hour-long event to voice their displeasure with the federal government’s decision to shut down the prison farms.
No one from the government came out to meet with the protesters, but one Liberal and one New Democrat MP showed up to express support.
National Farmers Union spokesperson Peter Dowling, who attended the rally, said that while he would have liked to see a bigger crowd, it’s difficult to get producers to leave their farms at this time of year.
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“I think we had enough to get our point across,” he said.
On the same day, another group of protesters turned soil and planted seeds in Frontenac prison farm fields at Kingston, Ont., while a third group held a roadside beef barbecue near the abattoir operated by Pittsburgh prison, also near Kingston.
Federal officials announced the closures in February, saying the farms have incurred an annual net loss of $4 million, are outdated and have failed to provide inmates with rehabilitation or suitable skills for today’s job market.
Critics of the decision say that’s an insult to farmers and demeans the value of agriculture.
