Inmates lose pay-cut challenge
Federal prisoners have lost a court bid to overturn pay cuts brought in by the former Conservative government.
Several inmates complain that their wages — a maximum of $6.90 a day — were slashed by 30 per cent in 2013, partly to offset costs of room and board and telephone use.
The prisoners say their income is unfair and insufficient to cover the cost of essential health and personal care items.
They say the cuts were unconstitutional, violated international conventions on prisoner treatment and breached the Canada Labour Code.
In a ruling made public today, the Federal Court of Canada rejects all of the legal arguments.
In the ruling, Justice Yvan Roy points out the court did not weigh the wisdom of the Conservative government’s decision, merely the legal basis for making it.