The North Slave Correctional Complex in Yellowknife will temporarily house ten inmates, formerly of the Baffin Correctional Centre. A lot of inmates served their sentence at the Baffin Correctional Centre but were eventually displaced by a fire that has ravaged the building.
Justice Minister George Hickes confirmed the whereabouts of 60 inmates at the facility. He stated that inmates had been relocated to various other correctional facilities.
Last week, Joyceville Institution in Kingston, Ontario accepted 30 inmates while the North Slave Correctional Complex in Yellowknife is currently housing 10 inmates of the Baffin Correctional Centre. Yukon took temporary custody of 20 inmates as well.
Justice Minister George Hickes released a statement, showing his gratitude to correctional facilities that took care of former Baffin’s inmates:
“We want to sincerely thank our federal, provincial and territorial partners for their efforts and support in dealing with this issue.”
For now, the damage of the fire that ruined the Baffin Correctional Centre is still being assessed. It is still unknown when the inmates will be sent back to their home territory. Hicks also added that six government of Nunavut corrections employees
“have stayed behind in the Yukon to provide assistance with supervision of Nunavut inmates.”
The facilities that housed inmates of the Baffin Correctional Centre are all following current COVID-19 safety protocols.
