Federal inmates lose court challenge of pay cuts introduced by Conservatives
OTTAWA — Federal prisoners have lost a court bid to overturn pay cuts ushered in by the former Conservative government.
Several inmates complained that their wages — a maximum of $6.90 a day — were slashed by 30 per cent in 2013 to help 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.
In the Federal Court of Canada, the inmates argued the 2013 cuts were unconstitutional, violated international conventions on prisoner treatment and breached the Canada Labour Code.