A Correctional Services union head has revealed the astonishing frequency of drugs and weapons smuggled into prisons, and a complete lack of administrative accountability. Tory leader Pierre Poilievre released a 16-minute documentary featuring a correctional officer of nearly 20 years, who now leads the Prairie division of the Correctional Services Union. Filmed against the backdrop of the medium-security prison Drumheller Penitentiary, where the union head’s wife has served for 20 years, viewers learn hard drugs have replaced cigarettes as the new prison contraband. .Prison cost up to $436-$779 daily per inmate.The prison environment has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, particularly in the last 10.Twenty years ago, cigarettes were considered the most serious contraband.“Now, that’s been replaced, with the same frequency as tobacco back in those days, with meth and some harder drugs,” the union head, who Poilievre refers to as “Dave,” said.“The amount of the narcotics, the degree of seriousness with the narcotics and of course the violence that comes along with that.”“What was a rare occasion is now a daily occurrence, whether it’s inmate on inmate, or against staff.”“You can have weeks where it’s very calm, and then you have what appears to be a brash of stabbings or beatings.”.WATCH: Poilievre vows to offer addicts guilty of possession mandatory treatment as alternative to prison.He said “like in the movies,” inmates get “creative” when it comes to getting drugs and weapons into the prison — including now the use of drones.He explained one of the contraband items dropped by drones is cellphones, which then aid in communication to bring in more illegal contraband.“That’s not unique to Drumheller. We’re seeing it across federal pens across the country.Sometimes, depending on the infrastructure of the window, inmates will make a funnel and the drones will drop contraband inHe said this all stems from “a lack of admin accountability.“All accountability has been removed,” he said.“For a long time, we had segregation…If you broke the rules, we would remove you from that, to determine where would be a more suitable environment for you, or just remove you from the incident.”.WATCH: Poilievre stops to chat with WS during Stampede Parade.Now, a violent offender can lash out at breakfast, and be enjoying rec time outside later that same day with everyone else.“Consequences are a thing of the past.”“At other institutions too — an uncountable number of overdoses.”“It’s turned into an almost unreportable incident, it’s just so common.”“The drug economy fuels violence. And without the lack of accountability, there’s no incentive to not (commit a violent offence).”
