If Stephen Nathan did any sightseeing, it was over the shoulders of reporters.

The corrections privatization expert from London, England barely had time to eat from the time his plane arrived Feb. 20 until his departure the evening of Feb. 24. Interviews, public forums, press conferences and radio talk shows filled his schedule for five gruelling days. And at each stop, Nathan’s message remained the same: Privatization is wrong, wrong, wrong.

High profile media outlets, including the CBC, TVO, and the Toronto Star listened as Stephen Nathan dispelled the myths that private jails are cost efficient and safe. He cited disturbing statistics which showed increased inmate suicide and escape rates, staff turnover rates of 42 per cent per year, decreased wages and non-existent health and safety regulations.

The highlight of Nathan’s tour was a public forum Monday, Feb. 23, in Penetanguishene. Over 250 people filled Brian Orser hall to capacity and were shocked at what they heard. Citizens shook their heads in disbelief as Nathan recounted the horror stories of jail privatization in the U.S., Great Britain and Australia.

"Eighteen months ago, the government said there were too many unanswered questions about private jails," Nathan said. "Now the government wants to privatize them, but it won’t reveal the basis for that decision."

Nathan also made stops in Lindsay, site of the second super jail, and North Bay, whose city council has expressed open interest in a super jail.

Nathan urged citizens to get involved in the public discussions and ask questions of politicians before it’s too late.

"Once you start privatization, it can be very hard to shift away from it," he said.

Stephen Nathan wasn’t the only one spending a lot of time on the road. Many corrections locals had members in attendance to hear the British expert during his travels.

The Penetang forum crowd was bolstered by the presence of President Leah Casselman, First Vice President/Treasurer Len Hupet and Region 3 EBMs Pauline Tapping and Ron Marston. Also in the hall were members from Barrie Jail (Local 313), Parry Sound Jail (Local 319), Oak Ridge (Local 307), Brookside Youth Centre (Local 338), Mimico C.C. (Local 521), Guelph C.C. (Local 233) and the Sudbury Jail (Local 617).

MERC vice chair Dave Graves was also there, as well as MERC chair Barry Scanlon, who represented OPSEU on the panel.

"All along, Harris has tried to pass off opposition to his policies under the phrase of ‘special interest groups’," Leah Casselman said. "The public is no longer fooled. How can you pass off the townspeople of both Midland and Penetang as a special interest group?"

By the end of the evening, it was clear that the only fool was corrections minister Rob Sampson, whose empty chair at the panel table reminded the audience that he was "too busy" to attend.

Locals in the near north got an earful Wednesday night as they attended a closed door meeting with Stephen Nathan in North Bay.

About 35 members, some who drove more than five hours to be there, listened intently as Nathan explained in no uncertain terms what privatized corrections is all about.

"If you work in one of these facilities, 99 per cent of your fellow officers will have had no prior corrections experience," he said. "Training is minimal, and staffing will be bare bones."

In attendance were members from North Bay Jail, Monteith Complex, Sudbury Jail, Cecil Facer Youth Centre, Northern Treatment Centre as well as Project Dare, one of the ComSoc facilities that has just been privatized. EBM Bill Kuehnbahm also made the trip, as well as our members from Corrections head office and North Bay Psychiatric Hospital.

After a brief pop and pizza break, Nathan recounted how in one British prison run by private firm Group 4, there were 11 inmate suicides in the company’s first two years. "Officers testified at the inquests that due to daily staff shortages, suicidal and high-risk inmates could not be observed every 15 minutes," he said.

Austin Toth, a local executive member at Project Dare, put a human face on what staff go through when their jobs go up in smoke. "Reality hits hard when you get handed that pink slip," Toth said. "Then you have five days to decide what to do with your life."

Scott Mason, President of Local 616 at the North Bay Jail, was pleased with the turnout. "Some of these members have a ten-hour round trip," he said. "I’m glad that they came to hear this first-hand."

They say timing is everything. While Stephen Nathan was drawing press from across the province, the CBC National’s Magazine broadcast a full length feature Monday night titled "Cash for Convicts". They explored the American experience with private prisons, focussing on the fight going on in Penetanguishene. Also, on Wednesday night the "Michael Coren Show" aired a debate between Corrections Minister Rob Sampson, Simcoe MPP Garfield Dunlop, Liberal Corrections Critic David Levac and MERC Chair Barry Scanlon. We will obtain copies of these shows for distribution to the locals.

Hundreds of red "No Private Jail" balloons filled the streets Saturday, Feb. 19 as Citizens Against Private Prisons (CAPP) in Penetang distributed petitions, postcards and buttons in their ongoing fight to have a public jail.

Penetang’s Winterama carnival drew thousands of visitors, and it seemed like every one of them stopped at CAPP member Sharon Dion’s table outside her Main St. clothing store.

One of the highlights of the festival was the parade down main street, whose participants got a little bonus – every car and float that passed the CAPP table was given a red balloon that said "Keep it professional – Keep it public".