Province responds to CO concerns at Pine Grove amid further calls for Minister’s resignation
Following an incident last week at Prince Albert’s Pine Grove facility, questions have raised regarding the safety of inmates and the use of carbon monoxide detectors.
A total of three people were taken to hospital last Wednesday, as a result of elevated levels of carbon monoxide, which were created by a faulty heating unit. Earlier in the afternoon, inmates in unit three complained to staff about a funning smell, and described feelings of nausea and headaches. All those sent to hospital were back at the institution by later in the day.
During a press conference last week, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety was unable to confirm if there were working carbon monoxide detectors in the unit at the time of the incident. The media was advised to direct their questions to the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement which is responsible for the maintenance of the facility.
When paNOW reached out to the Ministry, they provided an emailed statement.