Employees at jail in Fort Smith, N.W.T., say men's unit slated to close

Employees of a correctional facility in Fort Smith, N.W.T., say they've received notice that the jail's men's unit is targeted for closure. 

One employee of the Fort Smith Correctional Complex told CBC News that staff were told on May 15 that the unit is slated for closure as a cost-cutting measure. CBC has agreed not to name the employee because they're not authorized to speak publicly. 

The employee said staff at the facility were in disbelief. 

"It's not right what they're doing to us," they said. 

The territorial government has not confirmed the closure.  

A department of finance spokesperson said in an email that the department "could not comment on proposed budget items prior to the minister of finance's budget address in the legislative assembly."

In February, the government announced that it would be looking to find an additional $150 million annually through a combination of spending cuts and revenue increases.

The territory's department of justice did not respond to CBC's questions about capacity of each of the territory's corrections facilities, or the number of employees that could be affected by the closure. The territory's other two correctional facilities are in Hay River and Yellowknife.

The Fort Smith employee said they believe about 20 staff at that facility would be affected. They said the women's unit at the Fort Smith facility is not expected to close. 

The employee also said that about a month ago, all inmates at the Fort Smith men's unit were moved to the North Slave Correctional Complex in Yellowknife. Staff in Fort Smith were apparently told that was so they could focus on training and the department could upgrade the building. 

Inmates have not returned to the facility since, the employee told CBC News. 

They also said that staff in Fort Smith aren't ready to give up yet. 

"We're going to make this loud," they said. 

Gayla Thunstrom, president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), said the union has heard from several members about receiving notice about the closure of the Fort Smith Correctional Complex.