Mr. Speaker, the government recently announced the closure of Canada's only minimum security prison for women.
The Isabel McNeill House provides a transitional environment for incarcerated women offenders. It provides training to enhance their employment skills, making it more possible for them to have opportunities to participate successfully in society.
I understand that the facility is old and no longer financially viable, but an alternative facility should be located before closing the only minimum security prison available to women.
The inmates at the prison had to take the government to court and challenge the closure under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This is an equality issue and another example of the government's disregard for the welfare of women.