To the Editor: The Saskatchewan government must acknowledge the crisis-level conditions in provincial correction centres and move quickly to address them, rather than claiming ignorance, says the union representing Saskatchewan corrections workers. “We have spoken out again and again about the dangerously overcrowded conditions in correctional centres,” said SGEU president Bob Bymoen. “Instead of taking action, the government has delayed the opening of facilities in Prince Albert and at Besnard Lake. They also cancelled an approved remand centre for Saskatoon, which has contributed to the severe overcrowding in all facilities. And, the government is surprised that inmates are complaining!” Bymoen was responding to an article in the August 12 issue of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, “Province to look into inhumane jail conditions,” which referenced a recent letter by inmates at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre that describes conditions there as desperately overcrowded a
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples calls for Minister Tell to be removed
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is calling on the federal government to intervene on behalf of inmates at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre, where a massive COVID-19 outbreak is ongoing.
The Sask. New Democrats estimate that approximately 140 staff and inmates have the virus and that COVID-19 is in nearly every jail.
“Well, they’ve absolutely dropped the ball. In March, when we went through this process, that gave them an excellent opportunity to understand the impact of this virus. And it’s clearly obvious that when it comes to jails in Saskatchewan, they don’t know what they’re doing,” said Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Vice Chief Kim Beaudin. “Our people are now facing a death sentence in Saskatoon Correctional Center due to COVID-19.”