Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre worker's car set on fire, union wants more protection
The head of the union representing workers at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre says the province isn't doing enough to protect a worker whose car was "gutted" by fire last month.
Smokey Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said the incident happened about two weeks ago.
"An inmate threatened him by saying 'Hey, I'm moving into your neighbourhood, I know where you live, I'll see you around,'" Thomas said in an interview on Saturday.
"I guess it was a couple weeks later around 11 (p.m. ET)… someone smashed the side window of his car and threw a molotov cocktail kind-of-thing, something that exploded in the car, burned the car, gutted it right out."
Thomas said the province offered to set up a camera outside the worker's Ottawa home but he wants them to set up the family in a hotel or other "safe house" until the police investigation is complete.
"We go through this once in a while with the ministry, they always want to say how do you know it's directly related to work? Well, how do you know that it's not? The occupation you work in leaves you open to this kind of thing just by the nature of the work," Thomas said.
"In the vast resources of the government it would just be absolutely nothing to them to take steps to know they're safe."
Thomas said the attack could be linked to what he's been calling a "crisis" at the jail, with overcrowding and staff issues.
Naqvi: still working with employee
Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party sent an open letter to media on Friday asking Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi to "immediately assist" the worker.
"This officer fears for the safety of his family as well as his own," said Rick Nicholls, PC critic for the portfolio.
"He is even more shaken up by how little support he has received from the ministry and the lack of resources available to him. I am asking you to step in and ensure the officer and his family get the help they need and deserve."
In a statement on Saturday, Naqvi said their top priority is their staff's safety.
"Our correctional officers are the front line of keeping our correctional institutions running properly and safely, and we take their health and safety extremely seriously," he said.
"I know that the Ministry has reached out to the affected employee to offer assistance. The Ministry will continue to work with the employee to determine the most appropriate supports."
Officers with the Ottawa police arson unit did not respond to a request for more information on the investigation.
