Whitehorse inmates stage hunger strike

Inmates moved into the new Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC) only two weeks ago, but they are already protesting conditions there with a hunger strike.

The inmates are angry because they didn’t have enough blankets, and the library and visitors’ room are still locked up and out of bounds.

Yukon politicians are demanding answers to why this is happening. Kevin Barr, the member of the Legislative Assembly for Southern Lakes, said he visited the jail last week.

"Will the minister immediately investigate the concerns of the inmates who have told us they are refusing food because their complaints are not being investigated appropriately?" asked Barr.

The minister responsible said there are always problems when moving into any new space, but insists the situation is under control.

"I can assure him that at the same time our staff are trying to set the parameters for the WCC inmates. We also have a situation where the inmates are trying to set the parameters for the staff. And as I stated before, it is the staff that run WCC – it is not the inmates that run it," said Yukon Justice Minister Mike Nixon.

Nixon also urged Barr not to believe everything the inmates tell him. He said he has complete confidence in the jail staff to retain control of the situation.

The government added that the jail’s canteen is open and even some of the hunger strikers are eating chips and cheezies.

The new jail was supposed to cost $30 million but wound up costing more than $70 million.