NDP Leader Wab Kinew isn’t pleased with the Pallister government after the Liberals released documents that suggest the plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre were more than a year in the making.
He says the Conservatives didn’t have the courtesy or respect to tell the people in Dauphin about the plan.
“So, to me, that shows a lack of respect and a lack of consideration, because given the fact that people in Dauphin oppose this closure so much, if the government had been more honest and straight forward about their plan, then people who live in Dauphin and the surrounding area could’ve had the opportunity to lobby, to make presentations, and to try to get this decision reversed. Instead, it looks like the government tried to keep it secret for as long as possible so that there wouldn’t be a chance for people in the Parkland to get a reversal in this decision.”
In addition to the documents, Kinew thinks it’s a bad idea to move ahead with the closure during a pandemic.
“When you are transferring the people that are incarcerated there, to other places right now, you’re creating overcrowding, that leads to conditions where the virus gets spread more quickly. When you look at it from the staff side, everyone in Manitoba, for the past number of weeks and months have been told to stay indoors, except for the correctional officers at Dauphin, who are being told that they have to move and go look for new houses and places to stay, move their belongings, move their possessions. The decision to close really doesn’t seem to line up with what the public health orders have been.”
Kinew has a message for those in Dauphin that are still trying to change the government’s decision.
“I think it’s never too late to get the government to come to its senses and I also think part of the reason they announced this move at this time is that they’re hoping the folks in Dauphin forget about this next time they vote. But I would just encourage people to keep fighting and to just let the government know that you’re not going to forget what they did to Dauphin during your time in need.”
