Canadian Prisons: Union Leaders

Federal Justice System Dept: The unions, whose members work in Canadian prisons, at the borders and in the federal justice system, contend Public Safety Minister Vic Toews did not consult them before imposing the millions of dollars in cuts part of a government-wide deficit-trimming exercise, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The government is eliminating a money laundering intelligence unit, scaling back key personnel and dog-detector teams at the border, closing older prisons and increasing caseloads for parole officers, five union leaders told a news conference Thursday and oTTAWA - Union leaders representing more than 33,000 workers say Conservative budget cuts are threatening public safety, and lament that the federal security minister won't attend a coming forum to hear their concerns. The Public Safety Department's budget will be cut by $688 million, or 10 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.