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The federal government cut funding to a program that helps to prevent sex offenders from reoffending after their release from prison because it would rather energize its core supporters than protect the public, says Liberal MP Irwin Cotler.

Cotler, a former justice minister in Paul Martin’s Liberal government, put more than 60 questions on the order paper about the decision to end funding to virtually all Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) programs effective last March 31.

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CoSA programs, operating in many cities, including Ottawa, use circles of volunteers who meet regularly with sex offenders after their release, hold them accountable, and help them to safely reintegrate into their communities.

Among other things, Cotler wanted to know why almost all CoSA funding was cut, what evaluations were done of the cuts’ impact, and what other programs the government funds to help sex offenders after their release from prison.