FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 4, 2000

Corrections minister creating a crisis in provincial jails

HAMILTON - Provincial correctional staff at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre say they are being used as pawns by a Minister who wants to privatize at any cost.

To highlight their concerns, correctional officers and support staff will hold an information and protest picket outside the facility.

Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Media conference at 12:15)
Place: Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre
165 Barton Street East, HAMILTON

"Corrections minister Rob Sampson is creating problems inside our jails so that he can argue that the system must be improved," says Ed Almeida, a correctional officer and president of Local 248 at the jail. "We are understaffed, and new ministry recreation and lock-down policies are raising tensions and bringing inmate hostilities to the boiling point."

Almeida accuses the Tories of artificially inflating costs and creating instability to justify privatization of correctional services. "Sampson says that he needs to improve the system, yet his policies are eroding quality public service. It’s time that the public be made aware of the truth."

Corrections Critics Peter Kormos (NDP) and David Levac (Liberal) will attend the event.

- 30 -

For more information:

Ed Almeida (905) 574-5943
Don Ford (416) 723-8430