Prison Expansion Irresponsible, Greens

OTTAWA – The Green Party is calling on the federal government and opposition parties to bring an end to prison expansions and focus instead on providing meaningful support for victims of crime.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced yesterday $155 million in spending for new prison cells in Kingston and Montreal despite the fact that Statistics Canada data shows that the overall crime rate has been steadily in decline since 1991.

“It is time for the opposition parties to stand up to the mismanagement of this Conservative government,” said Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader. “In a time of ballooning federal debt, it is simply unbelievable that the federal government would spend millions on building prisons instead of crime prevention. It is time this government put our tax dollars toward meaningful support for law-abiding citizens.”

The federal government has increased the budget for the Correctional Service of Canada from $1.597 billion to a projected $3.128 billion in 2012-2013, a 95.9% increase since the Conservative government was formed. In contrast, the federal government set aside a mere $13 million in victim-related funding in 2009-2010.

“This government simply must do better. Ensuring the safety and security of our communities is a fundamental responsibility of government,” said Jared Giesbrecht (Green Party Justice Critic). “New spending on prison expansion is grossly irresponsible. Victims of crime are being neglected by a government that is fixated upon simply building prisons. Victims must be given a stronger voice in the criminal justice system and meaningful steps must be taken to effectively reduce reoffending rates.”

The Green Party is committed to supporting victims of crime by:

•             Increasing funding for the use of restorative justice programs for first time non-violent offenders, in which wrongdoers make reparation to victims and their community.

•             Supporting an effective system of graduated and supervised release into communities in order to substantially reduce rates of re-offending.

•             Working with the provinces to ensure stable funding for organizations that provide much needed support those who have been harmed by violent crime.

•             Imposing greater victim surcharges on offenders to better fund support services for victims.

-30-

Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
media@greenparty.ca
C: 613.240.9021
www.greenparty.ca