Federal Court orders Edmonton prison to act on extreme heat complaints

The Federal Court has directed the Edmonton Institution for Women to take concrete steps to install air conditioning, responding to persistent complaints about extreme heat within the facility.

Correctional Service Canada has been found to have failed in providing an effective solution to the high temperatures in the prison's secure unit, despite complaints dating back two decades. The court has ordered the service to record temperature readings and seek authorization for air conditioning installation.

Inmates have reported severe consequences from the heat, including sleep deprivation and panic attacks. One affidavit detailed a cell nicknamed 'the oven' where temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in 2018.

Separately, the Canadian Human Rights Commission has referred a complaint regarding prison heat conditions, filed by the John Howard Society of Canada, to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. This indicates a broader systemic issue concerning inmate welfare and environmental conditions within federal prisons.