Wilderness camps pitched to help young offenders
Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 11:32 AM CT
CBC News
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Party wants to send young offenders to so-called wilderness camps as a way to rehabilitate them.
That was one of 38 resolutions passed on the weekend in Winnipeg at a policy convention for the province's Opposition party.
Leader Hugh McFadyen said the wilderness camps would be more than just military-style boot camps.
"Structure is very important, so there would be structured activities as well as other activities that would be aimed at just teaching young people skills and building their self-esteem and really, just getting them out of the environment that was getting them into trouble in the first place," he said.
There was no further information on where party members believe the camps should be located, or how long offenders would be required to stay.
McFadyen said the idea is borrowed from other jurisdictions but at this point, it's just a concept.
The point is to get young people out of the cycle of gangs and drug addiction, he said.
"If kids are getting into trouble and doing damage to other members of the community, then getting them out of the community is important," he added.
Some of the other resolutions passed at the convention covered issues ranging from the economy and the environment to health care.
