FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2000

Lindsay deserves answers from Hodgson, correctional staff say

LINDSAY, ONTARIO - Haliburton-Victoria-Brock MPP Chris Hodgson has some explaining to do Thursday night, Ontario corrections workers say.

That’s when the community’s Superjail Liaison Committee meets for the first time since the Nov. 19 announcement that an identical superjail at Penetaguishene will be privately-run.

"Hodgson has said repeatedly that the Lindsay superjail would be operated in the same way as the Penetanguishene facility," said Larry Cripps, president of Local 309 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Lindsay Jail). "Before the provincial election, the last Corrections Minister, Bob Runciman, told us that both superjails would be publicly-run. He said there were ‘too many unanswered questions about safety’ with a private jail. What we want to know is, does the government have some answers after the election that they didn’t have before?"

Hodgson has been invited to the meeting, but has not confirmed his attendance. The meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at 6:30 p.m., at the Lindsay Town Council Chambers, 2^nd Floor, 180 Kent Street, Lindsay (entrance at rear). It is open to the public.

"Hopefully Chris will show up," said Cripps.

The Police Association of Ontario has come out strongly against privately-run correctional facilities. "Public safety cannot be compromised by leaving the care of prisoners with private citizens who lack the training and experience so crucially required," PAO president Bill Baxter wrote in a letter to Corrections Minister Rob Sampson. "I am confident that you will find that the citizens of Ontario do not support the privatization of policing or correctional services."

Meanwhile, Bob Runciman stated flatly, last week, that the new correctional facility in his home town of Brockville will be publicly-run, CKWS-TV reports.

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For more information:

Dana Burrage (705) 793-3908