Woman 'disappointed' after London visit from Corrections Minister didn't include families of inmates who died

A woman whose brother died of an apparent drug overdose while inside London's Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre says she's "disappointed" that Community Safety and Corrections Minister Michael Tibollo was unable to meet with families who've lost loved ones inside the troubled jail during his recent trip to London. 

Tibollo was in London last week, where he attended a general staff meeting at EMDC on Thursday, followed by a meeting to discuss policing issues with London city councillors Mohamed Salih and Jesse Helmer.

Tibollo has been meeting behind the scenes with members of the corrections and policing community in an attempt to close what his press secretary has called "harmful gaps" in Ontario's justice system. 

• Ontario minister looking at ways to deal with 'harmful gaps' in prisons, policing

On August 1, Tibollo promised Lynn Pigeau a meeting after she contacted the newly-minted Progressive Conservative cabinet minister via social media. On August 13th, he wrote to Pigeau again, informing her he was no longer able to meet.

Pigeau expressed disappointment Tuesday, after hearing Tibollo was in London five days prior to meet with local corrections staff and speak to city councillors.

"Why wouldn't he take the opportunity to speak to some of the family members?" she said. "I was really looking forward to sitting down with him and discussing with him changes that could be made on both sides of the bars." 

Pigeau has been seeking change in the system ever since her brother James Pigeau, an outspoken critic of the London jail, died of an apparent drug overdose in January 2018 while in custody at the EMDC. James Pigeau was awaiting trial for charges of robbery and theft. 

Pigeau said she believes there's more to her brother's death than a simple overdose. 

"My brother was a couple weeks away from being released, and my family believes he was silenced because he was reaching out to the Fifth Estate and The London Free Press, anyone willing to listen," she said. 

With 13 deaths in the last decade, the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre has one of the highest rates of inmate deaths in the country. It's been called "Ontario's worst" jail, is a place where there are questions about security and illegal drugs appear to be widespread.

During her planned meeting with Tibollo, Pigeau said she wanted to bend the minister's ear on a range of issues, including staff training, jail accountability and the possibility of privatizing the system altogether. 

"I think it should be privatized. I think a third party should go in there at any given time, without any notice, to make sure these changes are getting done," she said, noting she will continue to pursue a meeting with the minister. 

"It's going to take as long as it's going to take, because I'm not going to give up on this."