OCDC task force report to be made public June 1

The task force report recommending solutions toproblems at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre will be released to the public next week.

Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi assembled the task force in April to address concerns about overcrowding and health and safety at the east Ottawa jail.

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The 13-membertask force includesthe jail's superintendent, the head of the correctional workers' union and groups representing inmates. Itwas given a deadline of June 1 to finish its report.

Its findings will be made public that same day,Naqvisaid at anews conference Tuesday morning.

"We will issue the findings and the recommendations of the task force on June 1 and it's my full intention to make sure that it's all available publicly," he said.

"We're also hopeful that we will also have an implementation plan so that we can demonstrate exactly how we're going to implement all the recommendations provided."

Naqvistaying'at arm's length' to task force

A 2015 community advisory committee reportsaid the jail is often overcrowded and short-staffed, concerns that have been echoed by correctional workers.

Naqvi announced the task force following the deaths of two inmates, as well as news that inmates had been living in showers because of a space shortage.

Dozens of inmates have also been moved to other jails across the province to ease overcrowding, but lawyers have taken issue with the toll they say this takes on inmates and their families.

On TuesdayNaqvi said the task force has been meeting in Toronto and Ottawa and he's been keeping at "an arm's length" to their work to keep it independent.

"One of the things that I've asked the ministry is also to develop an implementation plan," he said.

"Ijust do not want recommendations, I also want an action plan to go along with it There will be a few things I'm confident we will be able to implement in short order, some will require time."

Naqvi said he expects the findings to be of use to jails across the province, not just the OCDC.