Some of you may remember USGE’s participation in the Save Our Farms campaign from 2009. Despite the campaign’s efforts, all prison farms had been closed by 2011. In light of ongoing public concern, the Minister of Public Safety has requested that a feasibility study be undertaken to engage stakeholders on the prospect of renewing viable agribusiness opportunities in the federal corrections environment. These agribusiness opportunities could include offender employment initiatives at the former penitentiary farm locations of Collins Bay Institution and Joyceville Institution, among others. As such, the government is inviting interested Canadians to provide comment through an online consultation.
It may be helpful to head over to the Save Our Farms website (http://saveourprisonfarms.ca/) to find out how the farms were a huge asset to the rehabilitation of offenders, and thus to our members, before filling out the survey.