Nunavut jail not a fire hazard: RCMP

The RCMP say they have found no safety violations at Nunavut's main jail, contrary to allegations made by the territory's former fire marshal.

Conditions at the Baffin Correctional Centre in Iqaluit have been in the spotlight since Tony Noakes was fired as Nunavut's fire marshal in May.

Shortly afterward, Noakes told CBC News he had asked the RCMP to look into whether criminal negligence charges could be laid with regard to conditions at the jail, which has long been overcrowded.

But on Monday, Nunavut RCMP said they "found no violations of any criminal or territorial statutes" and therefore no charges will be laid.

Those specific statutes are the federal Criminal Code and the territorial Fire Prevention Act, said police.

"All aspects of the investigation have been done. Many, many interviews have been conducted," Insp. Frank Gallagher told reporters in Iqaluit.

"As a result, there is no evidence found that would form any criminal or territorial charges."

'Depressing' news

"It was a bit … depressing, I guess, to hear the information," Noakes told CBC News Monday from Ontario, where he has lived since leaving Iqaluit.

When Noakes made his allegations in May, he said 102 inmates were being held in the Baffin Correctional Centre, which was designed to hold 48.

Noakes said he had complained repeatedly to Nunavut government officials that the jail was unsafe, pointing to overcrowding and inadequate building materials.

He also alleged that the Nunavut government had fired him for voicing his concerns. The government's termination letter said Noakes was unsuitable for the job of fire marshal.

Noakes said he still stands by his allegations, but he will not take the matter any further, as he said it is time to move on with his life.