REGINA – Officials with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice announced Wednesday they have signed a agreement with Compass Group Canada to provide meals in the province’s correctional centres. The five-year contract is expected to save taxpayers nearly $12 million, according to officials.
Compass Group will handle the menu and meal production to provide consistent food services at eight facilities. The cost of the inmates’ meals is supposed to be stagnant.
Sixty-two existing staff at the facilities will be offered the opportunity to retrain or be provided other supports through their collecting bargaining agreement.
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The ministry is attempting to reduce demand on the correctional system. Officials will be focusing on improving community safety, programming, supervision and rehabilitation.
“This decision will allow us to reinvest in programming and providing the best possible service to our offender population,” said Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell.
Tell says changes are expected to come into effect in November.
Compass was selected out of a total of three finalists. A quality assurance program will be included in the agreement to maintain consistent food services.
For over 35 years, Compass has operated in the province with such customers as University of Regina, Saskatoon Health Region, Regina Airport Authority and SaskTel.
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