HMP 'Achilles heel' of justice system: Collins

Newfoundland and Labrador's justice minister says he is not giving up on a campaign to persuade the federal Tories to help replace an aging St. John's prison.

Felix Collins said Her Majesty's Penitentiary holds federal prisoners, even though it is wholly managed by the provincial government.

"We think based on that,  the feds have an obligation, and we'll continue to keep the door open to engage the feds," said Collins.

"In the meantime, we can't wait. We can't wait forever to review our corrections institutions."

Documents obtained by CBC News under federal access to information legislation show the federal Conservative government has never had much interest in either building a federal prison in Newfoundland and Labrador or helping to pay for a replacement for HMP, parts of which are more than 150 years old.

Collins said while government has been able to improve parts of the corrections system, HMP remains a great challenge.

"It's probably the Achilles heel of justice right now and the area where we direct our efforts," he said.

The Department of Justice is currently reviewing all of the province's corrections facilities, which face numerous problems, including security.

In September, two inmates escaped from the West Coast Correctional Centre in Stephenville after they pried loose a piece of plywood from a window, and then dug their way to freedom under a fence. They were apprehended days later in central Newfoundland.

Collins said recommendations from the review are expected soon, although he said he does not know whether there will be money in next spring's budget for improvements.