REGINA – Some inmates at the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre were refusing to eat once again.
The group informed Global News of the hunger strike shortly after 4 p.m., but then at 8p.m. Correctional staff advised us the strike had been averted with ongoing discussions between staff and inmates.
The same group went on a hunger strike early March to protest the lack of any outdoor time or exercise options.
The issue was resolved when they were given a microwave, better access to books, and told they’d be given an area for smudging within two weeks.
The inmates said Thursday their microwave had been taken away and they were frustrated that the rest of the agreements hadn’t yet happened.
One inmate, Forrest Pelletier, said that the group only wants what was promised to them.
“We’re not given a chance to go outside to do exercise or work out. At least if we could have a microwave we could have a chance to have proper coffee, have tea, and warm-up some food,” he said over the phone.
The Ministry of Justice said the microwaves have only temporarily been removed because they were incompatible with the wiring unit and causing breakers to blow.
Officials added the smudging area is not ready to accommodate offenders due to frozen rocks in the compound, but add that staff is putting a procedure in place to allow smudging.
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