Jan.

27, 2011

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper

Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington St.
Otttawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

The United Church of Canada sends you greetings in this season of

Epiphany, a time of hope in the grey days of winter. We write to
express our deep concern about your government’s decision to
increase investment in the building of new prisons at a time when
crime rates continue to decrease. We are especially dismayed to hear
of this investment in the wake of funding cuts to critical social
programs and services.

The treatment of offenders has long been an important issue for the
United Church. Over the years our social policies have reflected our
intentions as Christians to work to build a more humane society and to
be involved in human and corporate redemption. We follow the
teachings of our scripture and tradition which calls the community of
faith to seek justice for the poor and powerless, whether guilty or
innocent. We place emphasis on God’s wholistic vision of restorative
justice as a way to rebuild critical, life-giving relationships between the
offender, the victims and the broken communities involved.

The Church has especially affirmed and supported the ecumenical

work of the Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC) with
whom we join today in protesting these proposed prison expansions.
The United Church believes that the government’s response toward
greater imprisonment makes neither humanitarian nor economic
sense. We know that 78% of inmates are non-violent and at least half
haven’t even been convicted. Many repeat offenders are mentally ill
and/or addicted, with the majority not classified as high risk. Why is
the solution imprisonment? These offenders require treatment, health
services, educational, employment and housing interventions, all less
expensive and more humane than incarceration. We know that 75% a
day is saved when, instead of remand to custody, monitored,
supportive housing and supervision in the community is provided.
Therefore, we respectfully ask you to modify your government’s policy
taking into consideration the impact it will have on the most
disadvantaged, its lack of effectiveness, and its serious economic
implications. Public safety is enhanced through healthy communities
that support individuals and families.

We would be happy to talk further with you about this important issue.

Sincerely,

Omega Bula
Executive Minister
Partners in Mission Unit
The United Church of Canada

cc. Hon. Robert Nicholson, Minister of Justice

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal
Joe Comartin, NDP
Megan Leslie, NDP
Réal Ménard Bloc Quebecois