/R E P E A T -- Not this time: correctional officers go door to door to prevent Conservative re-election/

SASKATOON, May 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Dozens of correctional officers working in Saskatchewan Penitentiaries who are affiliated with the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN) will be going door to door in the riding of Saskatoon-University on Saturday, May 23, to urge voters not to support the Conservative Party of Canada in the next election.

Armed with solid arguments to demonstrate that the Conservatives' record is disastrous in such areas as public safety, correctional agents will be speaking with voters in this riding.

"The Conservative government claims it's tough on crime. This tough on crime agenda is nothing but smoke and mirrors aimed at reassuring voters," said James Bloomfield, UCCO-SACC-CSN's Prairies regional President.

The Conservative government cut $355 million from the Correctional Service's budget. Hardest hit by these cuts is the inmate training program. One of the consequences of this decision is that  penitentiaries have become more dangerous for correctional officers. Many inmates will end up in the community sooner or later, but they should be given the opportunity to develop skills so they can reintegrate into society.

"This government is lying to you, and it's doing nothing to ensure the safety of Canadians, quite the opposite. We are meeting with voters to make sure they have the information they need to make an informed choice at election time in the fall," concluded Mr. Bloomfield.

SOURCE CSN

Dave Parent, advisor, CSN communications department, 514-216-9097, [email protected]