A herd of 60 dairy cows, including a herd of milking goats, are poised to return to Kingston-area prison farms.

Editorial: In defence of animal care

Prison farm activists cheer animals’ return

The announced return of the animals to prisoner rehabilitation farms in the Kingston area was an exciting victory for many in the eastern Ontario farming community. Farmers, and other community activists, had worked hard, protested, and protested some more over years to bring the prison farms back. The farm was eliminated eight years ago by […] Read more

Parliamentary Secretary Mark Holland (second from left) during a group photo of today’s announcement that dairy cow and goat operations will reopen at Joyceville and Collins Bay prison farms.

Cows, not just goats coming to prison farms

Prison farm advocates had lobbied for the return of the farm to include dairy cows

Animals are returning to Ontario prison farms, and it’s not just goats. The Trudeau government was elected on a promise to return farm operations to prisons, after they were closed under the Harper government in favour of what was called more useful skills. That resulted in an outcry especially in the Kingston area where there […] Read more

The Collins Bay Institution at Kingston, Ont. includes maximum, medium and minimum security facilities for up to 720 male inmates. (CSC-scc.gc.ca)

Four farmers named to panel on Ontario prison farms

Four eastern Ontario farmers have been named to a new seven-member advisory panel on the “potential reopening” of two federal penitentiary farms at Kingston. Correctional Service Canada (CSC) on Thursday announced the panel members, who are expected to hold their first meeting next month and to “engage with community stakeholders” on the farms’ possible reopening. […] Read more

The Collins Bay Institution at Kingston, Ont. includes maximum, medium and minimum security facilities for up to 720 male inmates. (CSC-scc.gc.ca)

Ottawa plans study for new Kingston prison farm

The federal government is set to run a study reconsidering the previous administration’s decision to shut farming operations at federal penitentiaries. Following up on a Liberal campaign pledge, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced plans Thursday for a feasibility study including both in-person and online consultations with stakeholders and the public. Specifically, CSC said […] Read more