Hill Life & People
‘Critical situation’ in prisons as health-care workers threaten to walk over lack of protective equipment
By Mike Lapointe April 8, 2020
'The Correctional Service of Canada continues to take a number of preventative measures to restrict the spread of COVID-19 in federal institutions,' according to the office of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, pictured at a West Block press conference about the government's response to COVID-19 on March 18, has asked both the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada and the chair of the Parole Board of Canada to determine if there are measures that could be taken to facilitate early release for certain offenders. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Health-care workers in Canada’s federal prison system are on the verge of walking off the job over coronavirus-related safety concerns, according to their union, as pressure mounts on other public servants who would be tasked with handling the early release of inmates.
Mike LapointeMike Lapointe joined the The Hill Times in June 2019 and covers the federal public service, deputy ministers, the Privy Council Office, public service unions, the Phoenix pay system, the machinery of government, and the Parliament Hill media.
Follow - mlapointe@hilltimes.com
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