Prison farms make return

Photo: CTV

Advocates for Canada's old prison farm system say they are encouraged by federal government plans to get part of it up and running again.

Yesterday's federal budget contained word that Ottawa was planning to reopen two farms near Kingston, Ont., where prisoners raised livestock and learned other farming skills.

The Joyceville and Collins Bay farms were among six that operated in Canada until the Conservative government of the day closed them in 2010.

The 2018 budget sets aside $4.3 million over five years to get the two Ontario farms functioning again.

Advocates near the Kingston farms say they're thrilled with the news and say they have plans to make sure the reopened facilities are more modern than their predecessors.

Advocates in other provinces are also welcoming the news, saying they hope progress in Ontario will give life to campaigns to reopen other Canadian prison farms.