Position Statement - Revitalizing Canada's Prison Farms

National Campaign Position Statement

We, the undersigned Canadian organizations, call upon Public Safety Minister, Peter Van Loan and the Government of Canada to:

1)  Stop the closure of Canada’s six prison farms by immediately freezing the dismantling process set in motion by Correctional Service of Canada.

2)  Consider our position that Canada’s six prison farms should be revitalized and re-oriented toward sustainable farming that will increase public safety and food security by:

i)  Feeding inmates food grown by inmates.

ii)  Providing work and learning opportunities that are necessary upon re-entry into our communities.

iii)  Providing rehabilitation and therapeutic activity.

iv)  Protecting farm and food system infrastructure, including valuable farm land, located on these farms which could be lost to the prisons, and to the broader local food systems around each prison.

v)  Training inmates to participate in the sustainable farm and food systems that will feed our communities into the future.

3)  Enhance partnerships with local communities and local farmers, and donate all surplus food to food banks and meal programs in the regions where the farms operate, in order to increase local food security.

 Signed by:

National Farmers Union

Canadian Federation of Agriculture

Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario

Food Secure Canada

Union of Solicitor General Employees

Public Service Alliance of Canada

Council of Canadians

Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick

Conservation Council of New Brunswick

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Sustain Ontario: The Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

National Farmers Union, Ontario

Ontario Farm Land Trust

Toronto Food Policy Council

Eat Local Sudbury

Frontenac Cattlemen’s Association

Urban Agriculture Kingston

Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul

Elizabeth Fry Society of Kingston

Council of Canadians - Kingston Chapter

Kingston and District Labour Council

National Farmers Union, Local 316

Other farm and social action organizations across Canada are being approached for their support.