GLOUCESTER, Ont. — A days-long hunger strike at an Ottawa-area jail has come to an end.
An advocacy group in regular contact with inmates at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre says the prisoners terminated the hunger strike for unspecified health reasons.
It was the second hunger strike in less than two months at the jail.
A 31-hour strike that started on June 3 led to an agreement between prisoners and officials that there would be healthier food, hygiene products and increased access to reading materials and television.
The second hunger strike began July 22 because inmates say authorities did not honour the June agreement.
It ended at noon on Sunday, according to the advocacy group the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project and Kristy Denette, a spokeswoman for Ontario's Solicitor General ministry.
"Staff had discussions with the inmates at Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre about their concerns, ending the strike on Sunday, July 26," she wrote in an email Tuesday.
"The ministry has policy and procedures for when inmates refuse institutional meals, which includes medical check ups."
Denette said when it is feasible, efforts are made to address inmates concerns.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2020.
The Canadian Press
