(Dreamstime.com)

By Troy Gillard

Minister suggested early releases

Mayor Veer asks Ottawa to keep prisoners behind bars during pandemic

Apr 7, 2020 | 10:56 AM

Red Deer’s mayor says releasing some prisoners early as a way of addressing physical distancing concerns in Canada’s institutions would be a risk to public safety in our community.

Last week, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair asked the federal prison service and the parole board to look at early release for some offenders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 behind bars.

Mayor Tara Veer wrote a letter to Blair to voice her concerns over the idea.

“Our citizens should not have to deal with increasing safety risks with the early release of convicted criminals into our community and region,” wrote Veer. “The City of Red Deer understands the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of all Canadians, but releasing prisoners early is not in the safety interest of all.”

Veer said Red Deer is dealing with a rise in property crime and that city officials are “deeply concerned” that the early release of prisoners will elevate public safety fears in the community.

ANNUAL LIGHT THE HOUSE EVENT

Ronald McDonald House lights up with holiday cheer for 2024

3h ago

enviro container

Red Deer-area company fined $12,000 for Water Act violation

5h ago

work already underway

Wetlands projects in Ponoka County and Red Deer get provincial funding

6h ago

The mayor also fears the early release of prisoners will affect the ability of RCMP and other emergency services providers to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe other mitigating strategies could be used to protect Correctional Service of Canada staff and inmates from the spread of COVID-19 without releasing inmates, such as constructing secondary sites or self-isolation units within the institutions, which would allow for physical distancing,” she suggested.

“Our community has been struggling with crime and community safety issues, long before COVID-19,” Karen Mann, Red Deer’s Emergency Operations Centre Director, noted in a second letter to Blair. “We implore the government to consider the impact on the well-being of all of our residents, as early release of prisoners into our community has the potential to create additional risk to their safety, their sense of security, their emotional health and their trust in government.”

Mann noted Red Deer’s proximity to both the Drumheller Institution and Bowden Institution in sharing her concerns with Minister Blair.

The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, which represents officers in 49 federal institutions, has said the release of a few inmates would not stem the spread of COVID-19 in prison but would increase the risk for Canadians.

RELATED: Doctors say governments should released as many inmates as possible amid COVID

(With file from The Canadian Press)