June 9, 2023 | The Niagara Independent

On Monday, June 5, Ontario lawmakers from all parties unanimously passed a private members’ motion from Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff calling for the inclusion of multi-faith chaplaincy work on the province’s community reintegration tables, when desired.

The initiative, according to the motion’s sponsor, will enhance public safety by supplementing the resources criminal offenders have access to when transitioning from incarceration to community life. 

“Motion 55, calling for the inclusion of multi-faith chaplaincy work in Ontario’s correctional institutions, is an important step towards improving the reintegration of offenders into society and promoting community safety,” said MPP Oosterhoff.

“Having extensively consulted with a number of faith-based communities, as well as prison chaplains in Ontario’s correctional institutions, I was pleased that the Motion was unanimously passed, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for their engagement and support.”

Oosterhoff’s motion was endorsed by the Muslim Association of Canada, Jewish Family and Child Services of Greater Toronto, Prison Fellowship Canada, and non-partisan public policy research organization Cardus. 

“I applaud the efforts of MPP Oosterhoff in recognizing the work of prison chaplains and support his proposal to include chaplains at Community Reintegration Tables,” said Rabbi Ronald Weiss, director of chaplaincy services with Jewish Family and Child Services of Greater Toronto….

Read the full article: The Niagara Independent