US-style mega-prisons wrong for Canada

OTTAWA – The Harper government’s priorities for public safety are misguided, wasteful and ineffective says New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

“The Conservative plan is to spend 43% more on building prisons,” said Davies. “They are pushing a US-style approach that is expensive and totally ineffective at bringing down the crime rate.”

The Conservative spending plan tabled this week shows a 43% increase in the budget for prison construction, from $230 million in 09/10 to $329 million in 10/11.

“At the same time as they are pouring money into prisons, they have failed to invest in priorities to keep communities safe,” said Davies. “There is not one new penny for crime prevention. There is nothing to put more officers on our streets, or to stop the closure of police detachments in rural areas.”

“This budget just goes to show that this government isn’t interested in the people and programs who are working to stop crime before it happens.”