Nunavut MLAs want details on fixing Baffin Correctional Centre

Nunavut MLAs wanted details on how and when the justice department will improve services for inmates and staff in the territory's correctional facilities, as ahearing on the auditor general's recent report on corrections continuedWednesday.

Michael Ferguson, the auditor general of Canada, wasinIqaluitfor Day 2 of questions related to his report which foundNunavut'snotorious Baffin Correctional Centreputs inmates and staff at risk.

• Assaults at BCC tripled in 10 years, partly due to overcrowding: AG
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On Tuesday, Fergusonsaidovercrowding at Nunavut's notorious Baffin Correctional Centre has lead to more violence in the facility.

MLA JoeEnooktold the hearing Wednesday thatthe jailhasbeen a problemfortoo long.

"In the report, it says 20 yearsnow we have known what needs to be fixed," he said inInuktitut.

ElizabethSanderson, deputy minister of Justice, said the problems are glaring.

"A maximum-security facility should not be made of plywood," she said. "It's as simple as that."

She said there are two ways to solve the issue:build a new facilityor fix the BCC. Either solution will be expensive.

"We're not talking about a few thousand dollarsor a few million dollars," she said."We're talking abouta significant infusion of funds."

Despite several requests fromMLAs,the department said it couldnot put a specific numberto that cost. The department says it should have its recommendations readyfor the fall sitting of the legislature.

CBC Nunavut's Elyse Skuratweetedlive from the event.