Liberal MP Scott Simms was livid when he heard Public Safety Minister Vic Toews say that no provincial MPs have voiced a need for a new prison in Newfoundland.
On Tuesday, when Toews was in St. John’s, he said Newfoundland MPs have never identified a new prison as an issue.
On Wednesday, Simms produced letters which show that he contacted then-public safety minister Stockwell Day, saying the province needs federal help to build a new prison.
“Either (Toews) didn’t know what he’s talking about or he’s lying,” Simms said. “I don’t want to sit around and analyze Vic Toews. I’ve got better things to do with my time. So I’m just going to put out the information — this letter that states that, no, we actually did, and here’s the paper trail to prove it.”
The letter from Simms, dated April 4, 2008, asks Day to consider the Town of Buchans for a “new and much needed federal prison for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Day replied to say that he received the letter, but there was no plan for a new federal prison in the province.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has been very critical of the Conservative government’s crime priorities.
Ignatieff has said the government’s hardline sentencing rules will create more prisoners, and the government will need to spend billions to expand prisons or build new ones.
In a statement provided to The Telegram, Toews said the letters Simms produced are from when former Liberal Leader Stephane Dion was in charge.
Toews said Ignatieff has clearly been against building new prisons.
“These letters date back to a previous leader of the Liberal Party of Canada to a previous Public Safety Minister,” Toews said. “If Mr. Simms disagrees with his current Leader’s position on law and order matters he should raise it with his leader."
But Simms said Toews is misrepresenting the Liberals’ position.
“Look, we want to put money into families and pensions as opposed to fighter jets and prisons. This is what he’s feeding off of, but we’re not talking about a brand new prison here,” Simms said. “This is an existing prison that desperately needs to be fixed or replaced.”
Her Majesty’s Penitentiary was build in 1859, and is cramped and outdated.
It is a provincial facility, but due to a quirk in Confederation’s Terms of Union, it houses federal prisoners.
The provincial government has argued for years that Ottawa should cost-share a new prison.
Simms accused Toews of playing politics, and campaigning for an election which is expected to come this spring.
“I heard his rant about the liberals and not doing this, that and the other thing. In his press conference as minister, I expected him to say, ‘My name is Vic Toews, and I approved this ad,’” Simms said. “It’s absolute garbage for a minister to be behaving that way.”
jmcleod@thetelegram.com
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500km....really.....apparently 'not' on the island 'eh?? Well NB has one ....just 450km as the crow flies from the west coast....So it's too late to express your discontent now!! You're gonna have ta move 'cause Dorchester Pen won't!!