OTTAWA - Canada's prison service plans a new pilot project to test the effectiveness of electronic ankle bracelets on offenders released into the community with conditions.
In addition, the federal border agency will consult the United States and Britain as part of a study looking at expanded use of the devices on immigrants and refugee claimants.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews outlined the initiatives in a written response to a Commons committee that examined electronic bracelets last year.
A majority of the committee recommended the federal agencies look into broader use of electronic monitoring.
However, the NDP disagreed, saying the government's own witnesses made it clear that the devices are not effective for low-risk offenders.
The New Democrats also opposed placing bracelets on immigrants or refugees who have not broken the law.
