Update on Fire at Baffin Correctional Centre
Statement
Update on Fire at Baffin Correctional Centre
Iqaluit, Nunavut (March 22, 2021) - Minister of Justice George Hickes today released the following statement:
“Due to the quick actions of facility staff and first responders, no one was injured during the fire at the Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC) on March 18, 2021.
Following the incident, inmates were placed in temporary accommodations with the support of the RCMP V Division, the Nunavut Court of Justice Sheriffs and the other correctional facilities within Iqaluit.
Within 24 hours, the Department of Justice found suitable relocations for the inmates displaced by the fire. By working with our partners in Correctional Services Canada, we have transferred 30 inmates to a designated unit at the Joyceville Institution in Kingston late last week. This facility has been free of COVID-19 since February 26, 2021. The remaining 30 inmates are currently in other correctional facilities within the territory.
Relatives of inmates will be provided with updated contact information for their loved ones.
Maintenance crews are assessing the damage to the facility and creating remediation plans to determine a timeline for reopening the BCC. I want to thank everyone involved in helping to resolve this situation, and ensuring the safety and security of staff and inmates at all times.”
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Media Contact:
Mark Witzaney
A/Director of Policy and Planning
Department of Justice
867-975-6346
@email