A Kamsack businessman is continuing his quest to have the federal government locate a prison in the community.
Chester Olson of Kamsack said last week that in the few weeks since he mentioned his efforts in the Times to have such a facility constructed in the area, he has had several residents comment favourably.
His latest move was to write a letter to Ralph Goodale, the Member of Parliament for the Regina-Wascana constituency and Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
He mailed copies of the letter to Cathay Wagantall, Yorkton-Melville MP; Andrew Scheer, Regina-Qu’Appelle MP; Don Head, commissioner for Correctional Service Canada; Chief Lyndon Musqua of Keeseekoose First Nation; Chief George Cote of Cote First Nation; Kamsack Mayor Rod Gardner, and Reeve Jim Tomochko of the RM of Cote.
“I have been in discussions with the mayor and council of the Town of Kamsack, the reeve and council of the RM of Cote, the chiefs and council of Cote and Keeseekoose First Nations along with business owners in the community,” Olson told Goodale in the letter dated September 19.
“All parties agree to the pursuit of the development of a federal prison in this area with the focus being on mental health and addictions,” he said.
“Two issues that need immediate attention in our penal system are mental health and addictions. The lack of rehabilitation causing the huge reoffending rate must be addressed.
“These type of offenders do not belong in general population prisons where gangs control the population. Building a new prison dedicated to these two illnesses would not only benefit society in so many ways but would also create much needed better paying jobs in the area.
“Since you mentioned that the federal government hasn’t built a new prison since 2006, renovating our present prisons isn’t the answer to solving problems of this magnitude,” the letter says. “Now is the time to build a state-of-the-art federal prison addressing offenders that create serious crimes due to their mental illness and addictions.
“During the election campaign one of the most talked about promises was creating better paying jobs for Canadians. To build a new prison would create 300 to 400 full-time, decent-paying jobs in the facility itself.
“We must not forget the outside social service facilities that would be required related to the prison population.
“Upon doing research into the penal system in Canada we understand the challenges Correctional Services Canada has balancing population in the prisons and the availability of qualified staffing. A new prison would take at least two years to complete and in that timeframe, with proper notifications, staff would be trained and ready for employment in a new facility.”
Olson told Goodale that he is requesting his support to make this development a reality.
“Your reputation as a Member of Parliament that gets things done will certainly make this project move forward,” the letter reads. “We look forward to working with you and your staff.”
As of last week, Olson had not received a reply.
