Canada’s prison system watchdog has told the federal Conservative government that it should suspend its decision to close prison farms until MPs have their say.
Dairy herds have already been sold and the farms mostly closed.
Correctional investigator Howard Sapers said in a report tabled in Parliament last week that it was a bad decision. His comments were part of a grim overall report that condemned overcrowding and lack of life skills training in Canadian prisons.
Sapers disagreed with the government justification for closing the prison farms that farm skills are irrelevant in a modern economy.
“Over the years, inmates have gained first-hand experience in operating farm machinery and performing farm duties, such as animal husbandry, mechanical repair and maintenance, growing and harvesting crops,” Sapers wrote. “As a result, farm hands have developed a range of skills, assets, knowledge and training that are directly transferable to labour markets in the community.”
