A second public forum is being held for residents to voice their concerns about the proposed prison in Kemptville
The Coalition Against the Proposed Prison is inviting the public to hear from experts about the negative impacts the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex could have on the community, and allow them to ask questions and generate ideas for possible alternatives.
Member of the coalition, Victor Lachance says the session will highlight why they feel the prison is a bad idea.
“This is a very big prison, being put in a very small town,” Lachance said. “That’s going to affect the future of Kemptville. Brockville’s got a prison with 48 beds, in a town with a population of 21,000. The province is proposing a 235 bed prison, in a population of just 4,000.”
Those who attend will hear from a local resident and PhD researcher who’s studying the experiences of incarceration, a former prisoner who will shed light on her experiences, and other experts on more humane and cost-effective alternatives to prison expansion.
The session will also feature an economist who will speak on the impact new prisons have on small communities.
Lachance says its their goal to ensure that the community’s voice is heard and that all the correct information is available.
“For us, it’s just a better future for Kemptville to fulfill the vision for tourism, and the local campus that has all sorts of features. This land could be used instead to enhance the overall campus plan for the college.”
The Government’s plan would see the new Kemptville facility house all Ottawa and area sentenced provincial prisoners, as well as an undefined number of prisoners on remand.
The session takes place on Tuesday, via Zoom from 7-9 p.m., and you can send an email to the coalition to register.