Local News

Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews confirmed on CJOB this morning the closure of six prison farms across Canada, including one at Stony Mountain's Rockwood Institution.

Corrections Canada sees little return on investment in the farms. Toews could not say how much money the closures would save, except to say the savings would be 'substantial'.

Toews says the farms may be OK for 'work ethic' training, but the actual skills gained don't reflect the reality of today's work world...



Toews says new work programming is on the drawing board. 

The Minister says he's not aware of any plans to replace Stony Mountain's Rockwood Institution prison farm with a 'super prison'... Toew's predecessor, Peter Van Loan, told the Globe and Mail last October the government is considering renovating and adding new wings to prisons to deal with a growing influx of inmates.

Toews tells CJOB public safety is his prime concern as Public Safety Minister...



A National all-party panel discussion on the issue is being held in Steinbach later this afternoon.

Rockwood is one of six national prison farms Corrections Canada has announced it's closing over the next two years.