Upwards of 4 "riots'' at corrections facilities recently, including one in North Bay

What’s being described as a riot situation last week at the North Bay Jail wasn’t an isolated incident.

In fact, OPSEU Ontario Corrections Division Chair Monte Vieselmeyer says it was one of four in the past two weeks at corrections facilities around the province.

Vieselmeyer says it’s his understanding they were short four officers last Thursday evening and that offenders were frustrated by a lockdown, with fires being burned, cells flooded, property destroyed and items being thrown at front line staff.

Overall, staff shortages are an issue and he says there’s no quick fix.

Vieselmeyer says after a three year hiring freeze, the employer started hiring again last year, but he says there haven’t been any this year.

He says the employer has told them it’ll likely take upwards of six years to see normalized numbers.