EDMONTON — The first supervised drug injection site in the federal corrections system is expected to open as early as the end of June at the penitentiary in Drumheller, Alta., according to the union representing federal correctional officers.
Correctional Service Canada, the government department that runs federal prisons across the country, has refused to confirm or deny whether or not the union’s statement was accurate.
“CSC received an exemption from Health Canada to permit the implementation of an overdose prevention service at Drumheller Institution,” said a statement emailed to the National Post Friday from Correctional Service Canada spokesperson Stephanie Stevenson. “Discussions and planning concerning the implementation of an overdose prevention service are ongoing.”
(Health Canada, which, the union said approves the permitting process for such facilities, said it “does not discuss the details regarding exemption applications.”)
However, Jeff Wilkins, national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, said his organization has been told it will be in place by month’s end.
