Canadian Government May Cut 300 Officers

OTTAWA, Canada — The Canadian government has proposed cutting 300 correctional officer positions at 54 prisons throughout the country, despite new legislation that is expected to incarcerate more people.

The cut would mark a 5 percent reduction in the 6,000-officer workforce. Critics of the plan say it could compound problems at prisons because there will not be enough staff to control gangs and drug trafficking.

The correctional officers union has spoken out against the plan, which would include about 170 cut positions at medium- and maximum-security prisons. The country’s conservative party recently introduced several bills that would strengthen penalties and prison sentences for various crimes.