The current move by our provincial government towards company prisons seems to me to be very similar to a move around 1996 to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The LCBO was a sound operation, well run, and actually showed a profit. After an outcry, the government backed down on that issue, and rightly so. It ought also to drop the idea of private-company prisons. They make about as much sense as Imperial Oil Court Rooms or the McDonald s Police Company.
Some jobs belong in the public sector for the good of everyone.
In this case, prisons are for the good of convicts and all of society. Those who know me know I have little use for labour unions. But, in this case, I'm happy to support the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. I note, too, that Centre Wellington Council was also unanimous in voting to tell Premier Mike Harris private companies have no business in the jail business. Running prisons is the job of society in the form of government.