'When people commit crimes, they shouldn't be in this fancy-dancey jail,' Ontario premier says of new facility

Doug john ford describes young boom quest jail as ‘Four Seasons Hotel’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing criticism for comparing the coming Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to a Four Seasons Hotel, less than a week after an inquest into the death of an inmate at the century-old Thunder Bay Jail.

The inquest into the 2020 death of Kevin Mamakwa, a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and the nephew of Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, yielded 22 recommendations, all aimed at Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General. 

These include developing a plan to decommission the jail within five years of the opening of the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, which is under construction. Also referred to as the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, it's expected to be operational next year and is projected to house 387 men and 75 women.

During an unrelated news conference in the northwestern Ontario city Tuesday, Ford was asked about recent calls from First Nation leaders to close the old jail, which MPP Mamakwa calls “a death trap.”

Jury at Kevin Mamakwa inquest targets Thunder Bay Jail — called 'death trap' by his uncle, an Ontario MPP

“We just want to make sure we get some consultation, and we built a nice jail, very nice jail up here," Ford said. "Matter of fact, it looks like the Four Seasons Hotel. I'm not sold on that. When people commit crimes, they shouldn't be in this fancy-dancey jail.

“But we're going to invest in it and let's see what we do with the old jail. Do we renovate it? Because we need more cells.”

Inquest jurors heard that 53 per cent of Thunder Bay Jail inmates identify as Indigenous, though others said the actual number could be upwards of 60 to 75 per cent. 

The MPP took aim at Ford’s comments.

“To me, that's just what he thinks of First Nations, which is not surprising. That's the real Doug Ford.”

The Mamakwa inquest jury heard concerns about poor conditions, overcrowding and lack of staff at the Thunder Bay Jail, which has an operational capacity of 134 inmates but often has more than 200 at any given time. 

The new $1.2-billion correctional complex on Highway 61 was meant to replace the jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. However, both institutions will remain open even after the complex is up and running, with the jail staying open for at least another five years.

First Nation leaders call for closure of Thunder Bay Jail

Lindsay Martin is executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario, a non-profit organization that supports women and gender-diverse people involved in the criminal justice system. 

Amid concerns over possible human rights violations at the jail, Martin said Ford’s comments “come from a place of privilege, someone who definitely doesn't understand the complexities of what happens for the communities that are incarcerated.”

Kevin Mamakwa inquest hears of 'chronically' understaffed Thunder Bay Jail

“I think the stigma that comes right from the top, from your premier, looking down on people who are struggling with issues that have been created by lack of funding and resources in community is completely blindsided,” they said.

Ford was also asked Tuesday about inquest jury recommendations to provide more mental health, addictions and Indigenous cultural support at Thunder Bay’s jails. He responded, “I’m all for it.”

“Any way I can help people if it comes to drugs, alcohol, any addictions — I'm all in."

Mamakwa said that statement by Ford doesn’t align with his other comments Tuesday about keeping “'the bad guys in jail.’”

New Thunder Bay Correctional Complex key subject at ongoing coroner's inquest

“It's almost as if he's speaking [from] two sides of the mouth,” the MPP said. 

Rather than building more jail beds, Martin said, the province should spend more money on services that support rehabilitation.

“When you're being released into homelessness with no supports after incarceration and the funding is being cut from that area, where do people go? It's almost like they're looking to have that door continue to revolve," Martin said.

Coroner's inquest jury hears about health-care challenges at the Thunder Bay Jail

“Their response to the lack of social supports in community is to build more prisons or keep aging infrastructure open, and I think that's a grave mistake if you're actually thinking about upstream planning for communities in the future.”

In Martin’s view, it’s important to think critically about how issues like criminal justice are framed by people in power.

“I think that [Ford is] just feeding off of this rhetoric that communities are feeling less and less safe. It isn't about public safety when we're incarcerating people — that's about capital and control."

Reporter

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