Damage to the Baffin Correctional Centre

Statement

Damage to the Baffin Correctional Centre

The Honourable Jeannie Ehaloak, Minister of Justice, today released the following statement:

"An incident occurred at Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC) overnight on June 20, 2018, as several inmates barricaded a section of the facility resulting in significant damage to the Charlie Unit. The incident ended without injuries to inmates or staff through the joint effort of Corrections Division and the RCMP.

The fire department was also on site during the incident as a precaution, but did not need to enter the facility.

Significant repairs will be required to BCC’s Charlie Unit. In the meantime, the Department of Justice is looking at options to transfer and house inmates in correctional facilities outside the territory until these repairs can be completed.

I am relieved that the incident was resolved without injuries through the dedication and coordination of our corrections staff, RCMP and other emergency response personnel.

As Minister of Justice, I would like to reassure the residents of Iqaluit that there is no threat to public safety because of this incident. The Department of Justice and Corrections Division are working diligently to repair the damage and ensure the facility is safe and secure for correctional staff and inmates.

The Department of Justice also continues to work on the Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre, which will replace the current facility. The new infrastructure will address on-going security related issues, as well as provide additional rehabilitative programming."

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Media Contact:

Matilda Madekufamba
Policy and Communications Analyst
Department of Justice
867-975-6325
@email