The troubled Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre was back on lockdown Thursday due to damage caused by a pair of fires set two days ago.
Sources tell CTV News that as a result of the fire a metal door was damaged and now two pieces of metal that could be fashioned into weapons have gone missing.
Questions are also continuing at Queen’s Park about a 12-point plan to improve health and safety conditions in the jail, which remains incomplete nine months after it was introduced.
And Minister of Correctional Services Madeleine Meilleur's claims that work has been done on the 12-point plan are coming under scrutiny.
But her commitment to hire 11 full-time correctional officers may not increase the total number of guards working at the facility because internal hires could simply see current casual workers reassigned to full time jobs.
Still, OPSEU officials are optimistic after a face-to-face meeting with the minister on Wednesday.
Rain Loftus, OPSEU staff representative, says “It’s a matter of following through with some of the proposals and suggestions, so it’s a wait and see kind of thing I guess. Some of the short term things I hope get started in the interim and that will be a show of good faith.”
At Queen’s Park Meilleur's promises of immediate action on what she ironically dubbed ‘burning issues’ did little to quash opposition demands for accountability from the minister.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey asked “Will you stand in this house today and admit that there is no one else to blame but yourself?
But Meilleur pointed her finger back at the Progressive Conservatives and their government’s decision in the 1990s to close 19 jails.
“Your party's decisions have led to the majority of the problems that we are facing today.”
But Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek said the buck stops at the minister's office and renewed calls for Meilleur’s dismissal.
“When there are lives at stake you don't deserve a second chance, will you do the honourable thing and resign?”
