EMDC to get drug-sniffing dogs, other security measures: minister

London's embattledElgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) is getting a canine team and other enhanced security measures in a bid to crack down on illicit drug activity, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Michael Tibollo announced Friday.

"Detection dogs have a distinct advantage over people in their ability to sniff out small stashes of drugs throughout the locations in a large correctional facility," Tibollo said.

The dogs start work on Monday, according to a ministry news release.

The troubled jail is also set to pilot a new"ion scanner," which can detect trace elements of drugs and confirm the existence of contraband sniffed out by dogs, Tibollo said.

"With the introduction of a dedicated canine unit and test of the ion scanner, EMDC staff will be able to do a better job rooting out illegal drugs inside the institution and preventing the flow of drugs arriving through the mail," Tibollo said.

Drug overdoses have been an ongoing problem atEMDCreachingatipping pointin August, when seven inmates overdosed within just minutes of each other. In total, there were 12 drug-related overdoses atEMDCin August, according to the province.

13 inmates have died in EMDC in the past decade.

To bolster the efforts of the dogs and scanner,Tibollosaid EMDC will also:

• Hire more healthcare staff.
• Enhance staff training on the possible signs of overdose.
• Add more correctional staff, particularly in the area of admissions.
• Do more frequent random cell searches.
• Enhance staff training on body scanners.
• Pilot a new hospital escort team for inmates.
• Use new drug detection kits to more quickly identify contraband subtances.

To address the underlying mental health issues behind addiction, Tibollo said EMDC has already increased doctors' hours, and hired a new addiction counselor and two new social workers.

A "local committee" made up of frontline staff has also been established to discuss issues at EMDC, Tibollo said.

When asked about the price tag attached to the new initiatives, the minister declined to give a specific number.

Private radio appearance

Earlier in the morning,Tibollo appeared on a private radio station in London, AM980. During the 15-minute phone interview, the minister discussed his government's approach to addressing the conditions at the EMDC for both inmates and staff.

CBC London had repeatedly asked to speak to Minister Tibollo about the EMDC. The requests for an interview date back a month - with the latest request submitted on Thursday night.

A ministry spokesperson said Tibollo would only be available to speak to the media event on Friday morning.

No meeting with dead inmate's sister, minister says

James Pigeauis one of thoseinmates who died at EMDCof an apparent drug overdose.

His grieving sister, Lynn Pigeau, had hoped to meet with Tibolloin person to talk about possible changes at the jail, and saidshe was 'disappointed' when he didn't meet with inmates' families during his latest trip to London.

At Friday's news conference, Tibollo confirmed that no meeting will be forthcoming.

"Unfortunately, because of the litigation that's involved, I won't be able to meet with her," he said.

In a bid for change, inmates' families put up 13 crosses outside the jail in June to commemorate loved ones who passed away while inside the prison.

Tibollo said Friday he'd like to see those crosses removed, and some other memorial put up in their place.

"I think we would all find it very hard if we were working here to drive past [the crosses] every day," said Tibollo.

"We've had some serious issues at the facilities here.... From my standpoint, it's time that we start to heal."