Prison farms or agri-businesses, as they were called, were operated by CORCAN, which is an operating entity of the Correctional Service of Canada. I was surprised that they were closed and at how quickly they were closed and by the skimpy reasons that were offered publicly for their closure. I hope there will be some reconsideration.
CSC needs to rethink its approach to vocational preparation across the board, and how CORCAN operates, and the kinds of industrial activities and opportunities that it provides to inmates. The participation rate is far too low, and the incentive pay was taken away. That came after the closure of the prison farms. The promised new activities haven't really materialized in a meaningful way.
An individual working in one of the agri-businesses on one of the prison farms learned a lot more than how to deal with crops or herds. They learned a lot about personal responsibility, timeliness, hygiene, occupational health and safety, and all kinds of transferable skills.
I think it was short-sighted. I hope that some reconsideration is given. I hope the reconsideration will be in the context of a larger rethink about vocational preparation offered by the Correctional Service of Canada.