KINGSTON – New Democrats today condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters at the Frontenac Institution in Kingston in the wake of the Government’s planned closure of a local prison farm and the sale of its livestock.

“For the Government to be selling off prison farms at this time is disgraceful. This protest demonstrates just how much the community cares about this issue,” said New Democrat Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior). “The Government is once again ignoring the advice of the experts. These programs have received support from local police and municipalities as well as trade unions, farm groups and food security advocates.”

Protesters gathered Monday morning at Frontenac Institution to express oppose the closure of rehabilitative prison farms and specifically the transport of 300 cattle from the Frontenac farm to be sold at auction.

The Government has announced plans to close six of the country’s prison farms and sell off their livestock and farm equipment. New Democrats have previously called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to maintain the well established and successful program.

“The farm programs at prisons have been proven to be an excellent tool in rehabilitation,” said New Democrat MP Malcolm Allen (Welland). “I have spoken to former inmates who credit this program as putting them on the straight and narrow, allowing them to make a real difference in their community. For the government to be scrapping successful and positive programs is a real travesty.”