Problems in Prisons in Ontario and New Brunswick

Introduction

Prisons in Ontario and New Brunswick have big problems. Some prisoners left the prisons by mistake. Some prisoners escaped.

Main Body

In Ontario, 118 prisoners left prison by mistake between 2021 and 2024. The prison staff made these mistakes. A leader named Michael Kerzner said sorry to the government because he gave wrong information. Three prisoners are still missing in Ontario. The police found two other prisoners. In New Brunswick, one prisoner escaped from a prison in February. The prisoner was gone for many hours. The government says some staff did not do their jobs well. Now, the prison in New Brunswick has more security. They want to stop prisoners from escaping again.

Conclusion

Both provinces are changing their rules to fix these problems.

Learning

The 'Action' Pattern: Past Events

When we talk about things that already happened, we change the word. Look at these patterns from the text:

  • Left → (Now: Leave)
  • Escaped → (Now: Escape)
  • Made → (Now: Make)
  • Found → (Now: Find)

How to use it: If you want to say something is finished, use the Past Form.

  • Example: The staff made a mistake. (It happened in the past).

Quick Tip for A2: Most words just need -ed at the end (Escaped), but some are 'rebels' and change completely (Leave → Left). Focus on the 'rebels' first because they appear most often in news stories!

Vocabulary Learning

prison
a place where people are kept as punishment for crimes
Example:The prison was built in 1900.
prisoner
a person who is kept in prison
Example:The prisoner was released after serving his sentence.
mistake
an error or something done incorrectly
Example:He made a mistake by leaving the door open.
escape
to get away from confinement
Example:The prisoner tried to escape from the jail.
government
the group of people who run a country
Example:The government announced new laws.
staff
the people who work at a place
Example:The staff at the hospital are busy.
leader
a person who leads or is in charge
Example:The leader spoke to the crowd.
sorry
feeling regret for something
Example:She was sorry for being late.
information
facts or knowledge about something
Example:He gave the information to the police.
police
the organization that keeps law and order
Example:The police helped find the missing person.
security
protection from danger or escape
Example:The new security measures made the prison safer.
rule
a rule that people follow
Example:The rule says you must wear a badge.