OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day had some explaining to do Tuesday after an internal report had positive things to say about a prison tattoo parlour project he axed last month.
In terminating the safe-tattooing program for federal prisoners, Day said an analysis of the project showed it "has not been demonstrably effective."
"When you have taxpayer dollars going into something that does not work, then you shouldn't be supporting it," he told a December news conference.
Critics expressed concern the move would increase the spread of AIDS and hepatitis C by encouraging illicit tattooing behind bars.
Copies of the Correctional Service's draft evaluation report of the pilot project were not made public at the time.
The report, now available from the prison service, says the safe-tattooing project resulted in increased knowledge and awareness amongst staff and prisoners about preventing blood-borne infectious diseases.
"The initiative has demonstrated the potential to reduce harm, reduce exposure to health risk, and enhance the health and safety of staff members, inmates and the general public."
It also found that while the price-tag of the project was low respective to the potential benefits, a more cost-effective model could be put in place with similar or better results.
Tattoo parlours at six federal prisons across Canada have been sitting idle since the one-year pilot project ended Sept. 30.
The $960,000 project was aimed at controlling the spread of AIDS and hepatitis C by informing inmates about sanitary tattoo inking and how to avoid infectious diseases. Some prisoners were also taught to give tattoos to fellow inmates.
The draft evaluation found the cost of treating a prisoner with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was 50 times that of a tattoo session.
The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers applauded cancellation of the pilot project, saying a tougher policy on the drugs prisoners inject with dirty syringes was the real key to tackling infectious diseases.
In a letter sent Tuesday to newspapers, Day defended his decision to end the project, insisting the draft evaluation "failed to conclusively determine that the health and safety of staff members, inmates and the general public would be protected by maintaining this program."
Day also says Correctional Service Commissioner Keith Coulter recommended the six tattooing sites be closed.
Michele Pilon-Santilli, a prison service spokeswoman, confirmed that Coulter made the recommendation at the end of September.
"It's not a cost-free initiative," said Pilon-Santilli, adding that expanding the project to all 58 federal institutions would have been expensive, competing with other prison service priorities.
A briefing note prepared for Day indicates the minister raised the pilot project at his first meeting with Coulter on Feb. 9, 2006, shortly after the Tories took office.
In the note, obtained by The Canadian Press, Coulter says while the prison service has had to work hard to counter the image it is too accommodating to inmates, the public safety objective of the tattooing project "can be very logically explained."
Coulter says the service planned to await the final evaluation of the pilot effort, expected in March 2007.
"Unless you wish otherwise, it is my intention to seek your views at that point on the results of the evaluation, and the way ahead from there."
Inmates are up to 10 times more likely to contract HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, than the general Canadian population. Their likelihood of contracting hepatitis C is about 30 times higher.
Day said in December the prison service, in partnership with Health Canada and outside organizations, would continue to run health and education programs to help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.
