Brockton and Owen Sound are stepping up their campaigns to stop the provincial government from closing the jails in their communities.
Brockton Council on Monday night passed a resolution asking the province to stop the plan.
Owen Sound Council adopted a similar resolution — asking the Liberals to postpone the planned closure until a new facility can be built in Grey County.
Owen Sound Mayor Deb Haswell and Grey County Warden Arlene Wright are going to tour the City jail at 9 AM on Tuesday.
Officials have more meetings about the jail scheduled with Minister of Correctional Services and Community Safety Jim Bradley later this week.
The employees at the jails have also collected over 12 hundred names in a petition to stop the facilities from closing.
The Assistant Deputy Minister Steven Small will be in Owen Sound on Wednesday and in Walkerton on Thursday to talk to affected employees.
Staff at both facilities take issue with the province’s assessment as “under-utilized” — but staff in Owen Sound say they are at 96 per cent capacity on weekends.
Paul Johnstone — a correctional officer and local union President — says the jail is indeed in poor shape since its 160 years old.
But he argues the jail is important to the community for economic reasons and social reasons.
Johnstone notes it’s important that prisoners have access to area support services like mental health and addictions counselling.
He also says the First Nations in the area play important roles in rehabilitation efforts.
The province plans to close both the Owen Sound and Walkerton jails this year and prisoners will instead be housed at the super jail in Penetanguishene.
