The president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) says she’s heard the closure of the Dauphin Correctional Centre (DCC) is going to proceed on May 29th.
Michelle Gawronsky has been calling on Justice Minister Cliff Cullen to delay the closure until after the pandemic. She says it's not fair to make correctional officers and their families relocate at this time.
“My initial reaction was disgust. I found out through the members there was a meeting held at the Dauphin jail with the superintendent of the jail telling our members, contrary to what they’d been told, that the closure of the jail will be definitely happening on May 29th.”
Gawronsky says she’s not exactly sure if jail workers are going to be asked to break social distancing guidelines as they look to relocate, buy new homes, and register kids for school.
“We’re not exactly sure what the expectation is for these workers.”
The MGEU president explains she discussed the topic of delaying the closure while on a conference call with Minister of Justice Cliff Cullen on April 1st. Gawronsky says she is waiting to hear back from Minister Cullen.
Going forward, Gawronsky says she's hoping the public will voice their displeasure and contact the premier directly with their concerns.
“To me, it’s a fairly easy answer. Just make an announcement that the closure of the Dauphin jail has been delayed until the pandemic is over.”
