OTTAWA, CANADA - The Conservative government could cancel the prison tattoo-parlour program, Sun Media has learned.

In one of his first acts after being sworn into cabinet, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day instructed brass at the Correctional Service of Canada to examine "options" for the inmate-run pilot project.

Ministerial briefing documents obtained through Access to Information show Day made his initial inquiry Feb. 9 -- five days after he was appointed.

"It is my understanding that you wish to look at options with respect to the future of the Safer Tattooing Pilot Project," said a second heavily censored paper signed by CSC Commissioner Keith Coulter March 13.

The briefing notes stress the program's objective is to reduce HIV/AIDS and other health risks associated with underground tattooing and said CSC concluded it "cannot be eliminated or significantly controlled," because nearly half the prison population engages in body art.

But the documents acknowledge the program wasn't an easy sell to the public. The pilot project is currently running at six institutions at a cost of $700,000.

Day's spokesman Melisa Leclerc said he has not yet made a decision on whether to scrap the program, and could wait until an evaluation report is tabled early next year.

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, called the program a safety hazard and a "big time" waste of money.