National media are keeping the public informed on the party leaders' positions on various issues of importance across Canada in the current federal election.

This newspaper wanted to obtain the positions of our four local candidates on key issues important to this riding, so we sent them questions to discover what they would do, should they be elected Oct. 14.

Over five editions, we are presenting the answers of Conservative Rick Norlock, Liberal Paul Macklin, New Democrat Russ Christianson and Green Party representative Ralph Torrie -- to our questions. We present Part 5 today.

QUESTION 5

A Deloitte & Touche report (Correctional Service of Canada Review Panel -Independent review of the cost estimate for the construction and operations of a new corrections facility) recommends the closure of the Warkworth correctional facility. If implemented, an estimated $600,000-plus annually will be taken out of the Municipality of Brighton and up to $200,000 annually from the County of Northumberland. Combined with job losses and other spinoffs, the riding could suffer losses in the millions of dollars. What is your position on keeping the Warkworth facility operational and, if there is public support to locate a regional facility here, what will your position be?

Liberal -Paul Macklin

I will be doing everything in my power as MP to make sure that this vital community institution is not closed, as currently proposed. This institution is clearly a vital economic force for our entire riding and should be a top priority for anyone elected as MP to protect.

I am gravely concerned about the potential direction of the Harper government, based on the consultant's report that their government commissioned. This institution should be invested in, not shuttered; the impact of lost jobs and revenues for our local communities will be devastating and, frankly, irreparable and has to be prevented.

I would welcome efforts to secure funds to upgrade the facility as required. I think local leaders are very right to be concerned with the possible course the current Harper government-sponsored task force is taking. If there is community support I would certainly consider the opportunity of a larger regional facility.

NDP -Russ Christianson

Harper's Conservatives would like to further privatize health care, food safety, and our jails. Just like Mr. Bush to the south, it's their free market, hands-off ideology.

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Government institutions in Northumberland-Quinte West, like the Warkworth Pen, our hospitals, affordable public housing, public schools, and CFB Trenton are important and stable building blocks in our local economy.

New Democrats know that the federal government plays an important role in our local economy, and we are firmly opposed to privatizing the public services that are so important for our quality of life.

We don't need an expensive consulting study to tell us to close local correctional facilities and replace them with a super jail. We know that rehabilitation is much more successful in small institutions, with complementary community and police supports outside of the institution.

New Democrats would work to upgrade and keep the Warkworth and other correctional facilities operating where they are now.

We would also work to address the roots of crime with active prevention. The core to a safe community is the avoidance of crime, and the development of a healthy community.

We will:

* Increase federal government funding for prevention and awareness campaigns focused on solutions to violence in our communities.

* Create a year-round youth employment and skills development program delivered through a pan-Canadian network of youth centres. The program will promote skills enhancement, community development, sports, culture, and recreational activities. It will lead to high-quality jobs, career opportunities and active involvement by young people in their communities.

My brother is a veteran member of the RCMP. Recently, I had a discussion with him about crime and gun violence and he told me the laws are tough enough, but the prosecutors are overworked and often plea bargain minimum sentences away.

New Democrats will also work to ensure effective prosecution and enforcement. We will act on the need for more effective prison and sentencing programs to reduce the number of repeat offenders and end the "revolving door" syndrome, to build up restorative justice opportunities, and to increase training, rehabilitation and drug addiction programs within the justice system.

Green -Ralph Torrie

The Warkworth federal penitentiary is the closest federal facility to the largest population centre, the greater Toronto area. It has the best rate of success for the reintegration of inmates back into society because inmates have a higher chance of keeping in contact with their families while in prison.

Warkworth costs $34 million a year to operate and employs 340 staff. It pumps a tremendous amount of money into the local Brighton and regional economy. The prison should be maintained where it is. There is ample room for growth on site.

We disagree strongly with the Deloitte Touche report. It is a rehash of U. S. prison privatization approaches under the Bush administration which created huge, unmanageable "superjails." Motivated by the profit motive, services and reintegration programs are diminished.

The Green Party will promote the reintegration and rehabilitation programs for inmates that a regional penitentiary like Warkworth can implement with the assistance of closer family contacts for the prisoners.

Conservative -Rick Norlock In the spring of 2006, the government appointed a blue-ribbon panel to investigate and report on the future of the Correctional Service of Canada. As stated in the terms of reference, at no time were so-called "super jails" to be considered as part of the report.

It was very evident to the panel members that the previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing to improve the infrastructure needs of our federal prisons during their 13 years as government. In Budget 2008, our government has provided more than $125 million to start repairing the "rust out" that was not a Liberal priority.

The Deloitte and Touche report, appended to the panel report, dealt with potential cost savings by revamping the physical infrastructure of prisons in the Ontario Region. As part of that report, Deloitte and Touche hypothetically speculated that some prisons could be closed as a cost-saving measure and larger regional prisons be built. Included on that list of facilities was Warkworth.

I want to be very clear: the report discusses potential closure. The government has at no time announced any closures of prisons across the country.

Minister for Public Safety, Stockwell Day, directly phoned Northumberland County Warden Chris Herrington and assured her the issue of any federal prison closure is not currently on the government's agenda. Further, in my conversations with Minister Day, I am confident the inadequacies we find in the Deloitte and Touche appendix leave even more doubts as to any savings to be found in decommissioning.

I am confident that the task force, of which I am a member, will have a very convincing case for retaining if not expanding the current facility should we ever be faced with this issue. Having spoken to the people who work and supervise at Warkworth Institution who are familiar with the needs and "state of affairs" within the current system in this area (Eastern Ontario), I am confident that we will not be faced with any closure.

Warkworth Institution is Canada's largest federal prison in size and population and we are very fortunate to have it in Northumberland-Quinte West along with Canada's largest air force base at CFB Trenton. The two, unfortunately, became products of neglect by the previous government, of which my Liberal opponent was a member for nearly six years. Under Paul Macklin's watch these two assets in our community were neglected to the point of "rust out." Since 2006 our Conservative government has budgeted and will spend well over a half a billion dollars to overhaul CFB Trenton and I am ready to work with my colleagues in government to bring that same result to Warkworth.

Finally, as long as I am the Member of Parliament for Northumberland-Quinte West I will fight hard for the long-term viability of Warkworth Institution.