This is an open complimentary invitation to all candidates running in the City of Brampton Municipal Election to submit articles, news or press releases to The Brampton News. Digital images are welcomed. Include your complete contact information with your article, in the event that we have any questions. Articles submitted without contact information will not be considered. Send to news@brampton.com. Dear Candidates,
The Ontario Government has committed 81.1 Million Dollars to building a youth "megajail" in Brampton. This jail will be located at Queen and McLaughlin. This new jail concerns me as a young person living in Brampton.
I do not want Brampton to be known as the place as where young people go to jail. This new jail which will hold about 200 young people goes against the Meffe inquest which says that new youth facilities should be constructed as small stand alone facilities throughout the GTA. David Meffe was a young person who killed himself in a youth jail because of violence he endured in that facility. Why is the provincial government not following these recommendations?
Meanwhile, my school Board has a 16.5 million dollar deficit. So why is the provincial government spending 81.1 million dollars on putting young people behind bars? Why are the McGuinty Liberals spending $1500 dollars a day to pay the man given the task of cutting millions of dollars in programs and staff in the Board?
I think our municipal and regional representatives should take a stand against this jail. Young people need to be invested in. We need healthy communities. Brampton does not need this jail. I would like to know what our municipal representatives will do to stop construction of this jail. They are planning to open this jail in 2007 – so we need immediate action! Brampton needs to stand up to the province and say that this megajail does not belong in Brampton.
Sincerely,
Blayne Clarke
Resident of Brampton