Federal Court Finds Heat in Edmonton Prison’s Secure Unit and SIU “Excessive,” Orders Air Conditioning remedy

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Federal Court Finds Heat in Edmonton Prison's Secure Unit and SIU "Excessive," Orders Air Conditioning remedyAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.OTTAWA, Ontario, July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On July 16, 2026, the Federal Court released its Reasons and Judgment in an Application brought by the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) on behalf of incarcerated people challenging the conditions of confinement in the Secure Unit (“Secure”) and Structured Intervention Unit (“SIU”) at the Edmonton Institution for Women (“EIFW”). CAEFS argued the Application a year earlier, on June 11, 2025, before the Honourable Madam Justice Conroy.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountAt issue was the extreme heat in areas of Secure and the SIU occupied by incarcerated people. Drawing on an extensive evidentiary record built by CAEFS, the Court accepted CAEFS’ evidence and found that the heat in these units was “excessive” and “potentially unsafe and unhealthy” — conditions the Correctional Service of Canada (“CSC”) has known about since at least 2012.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“CAEFS is heartened by the Court’s validation of what both incarcerated people at EIFW and CAEFS have been telling CSC for years, to no avail,” said Emilie Coyle, Co-Executive Director of CAEFS.The Court also found that CSC’s failure to take temperature logs was a “significant oversight and unreasonable,” particularly given that the “health and safety of human beings” was at stake. In doing so, the Court affirmed the vulnerability of incarcerated people, recognizing their inherent right to be treated with respect and dignity — a right made all the more precarious by their status as incarcerated people.As a result of CAEFS’ Application, the Court ordered the exceptional remedy of mandamus, directing CSC to take temperature logs in Secure and to seek permission from National Headquarters to install air conditioning in “inmate-occupied areas in the Secure Unit, including the cells” at EIFW. Because the Court repeatedly relied on evidence that air conditioning is the only way to bring the temperatures down, and directed CSC to give “serious and meaningful consideration to installing A/C,” CAEFS expects that air conditioning is the only way CSC can bring these conditions into compliance with the law.“CSC must give serious and meaningful consideration to installing air conditioning — anything less will not meet the standard the Court has set,” said Coyle. “The Court has ordered CSC to provide us with the temperature logs and its requests to National Headquarters, and we will be watching closely to ensure compliance.”CAEFS acknowledges that this Application could not have succeeded without the courage and significant work of the incarcerated people who helped build the evidentiary record. Their repeated complaints, grievances, and appeals to CSC — in what must have felt, at the time, like a hopeless situation — are a testament to the resilience and strength of incarcerated people, even in the face of conditions CAEFS submits are torturous.CAEFS also thanks its counsel, Kate Engel, for her exceptional work on this matter and her excellent advocacy on behalf of incarcerated people.Emilie CoyleCo-Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societiesecoyle@caefs.ca613-316-6785This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.