INMATES ALLOWED TO SMOKE OUTDOORS

Released on October 20, 1995

Justice Minister Bob Mitchell today announced that inmates will be
allowed to smoke outdoors at the province's correctional centres.

"This policy is consistent with the government's commitment to provide
smoke-free workplaces for staff and it is also consistent with the
direction being contemplated by some other correctional jurisdictions
in Canada," Mitchell said.

Under the policy, inmates will be required to observe the ban on
smoking inside all buildings and smoke only outside. The sale and
possession of tobacco products will not be restricted. The use of
tobacco products for Aboriginal ceremonies will also be accommodated.

Mitchell said that corrections staff and management will meet to
finalize details and decide when the new smoking policy will come into
effect in all correctional centres.

The Corrections Division had initially announced that smoking would be
eliminated both inside buildings and on the grounds of the correctional
centres. The centres had been imposing increasing restrictions on
smoking over the past several months.

Inmates at the Regina Centre launched court action challenging the
smoking ban on the grounds that it violated their constitutional
rights. The Court of Queen's Bench found that there is no
constitutional right to smoke, but invited the government to reconsider
the policy. The Court of Appeal upheld the Court of Queen's Bench
ruling.

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For more information, contact:

Lisa Ann Wood
Justice
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-7872