FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2006
Private jail to be
repatriated into public hands: Proof that public services
are better publicly-run: OPSEU
The Ontario government did the
right thing by reversing a Mike Harris decision to privatize
adult correctional facilities, the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union said today.
The government announced that
the contract with a Utah-based company to operate the Central
North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, the first
private adult jail in Canada, would not be renewed.
“The public service has
outstripped the private sector when it comes to delivering
public services. This is a very important lesson for this
government,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.
Casselman challenged the
government to extend this lesson to all other privatized
services, in particular facilities for young offenders, road
maintenance, water treatment and health care.
The Mike Harris government
announced in May, 2001, that Management & Training Corporation
would have a five-year pilot project to operate the 1,184-bed
correctional centre. It would be compared to the operation of
the new Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, which is
publicly-run. According to the study, the publicly-run CECC
performed better in key areas such as security, health care
and reducing re-offending rates.
OPSEU represents employees of
both facilities. OPSEU and its allies in the community have
been campaigning for years to have the jail retiurned to the
Ontario Public Service.
Casselman said the union would
be working closely with the government to make sure that all
employees and services are returned to the public service
where they belong.
“Our members are dedicated to
public services, not making profits for private companies,”
she said.
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For further information:
Paul Bilodeau, OPSEU
Communications 416/443-8888 ext 8780
