Taxpayer-financed tattoo parloursare being pulled out of federal prisons.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day canned the controversial pilot program yesterday, calling it a failure and a waste of money despite concerns it will lead to a rise in infectious diseases. "Having a tattoo program for federal prisoners is not an efficient use of taxpayer dollars. It has not been demonstratively effective," he said.

The program cost $350,000 to start up plus another $600,000 in annual operating costs at six prisons.

Day said convicted criminals at all 58 institutions will have access to programs to reduce the incidence of HIV and hepatitis.

"We have programs that talk about the risks of unsafe tattoo practices. We're very proactive on that side in terms of inmate health and we also expect inmates to take responsibility for their own health," he said.

Day also confirmed he would launch a broader review of Canada's prison system in January, and planned a crackdown on drugs behind bars.

Joanne Csete, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, said Day's decision is shortsighted.

"The tattooing program is one that easily pays for itself just by averting a few infections in each site. It's hard to understand what the rationale could be for essentially encouraging unsafe tattooing which the public and the corrections system will have to pay for in dealing with the diseases transmitted later on," she said.

But John Williamson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, doesn't believe cancelling the program will lead to higher health-care costs.