The $30 million toe in the water

A former health manager at the Thunder Bay Jail testified that about 40 per cent of inmates were receiving opioid agonist therapy in 2020,and it's much higher now. the testimony was provided during the fifth day of a coroner's inquest into the death of Kevin Mamakwa, who died at the jail June 2, 2020 at 27 years old.

Melissa Boban, the former health manager, said about 40 per cent of inmates were receiving opioid agonist therapy in 2020, and it's much higher now. She also explained that in 2020, if a person missed six consecutive doses of suboxone, they had to be re-assessed by a dcotor in person before they could receive additional doses.

However, the jury heard Mamakwa had no chance to see a doctor during his time at the jail. Boban also said it seemed it was unclear to jail staff whether Mamakwa had an active prescription, and they didn't know he was given a 21-day prescription May 14 which would have lasted until June 3, the day after he died.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The inquest jury also heard from Zarah Neubauer, a registered nurse who works at the Thunder Bay Jail and was there at the time of Mamakwa's death. neubauer described the jail as a loud, cramped space, making it challenging to provide health-care services.

However, she also told the jury there's a sense of community there. It feels like a submarine, she told the jury. I'd love to just blow a hole in the wall and build another section. The Thunder Bay Jail, located at 285 MacDougall St.,shown on June 5, 2026.

The facility was built 100 years ago in 1926.. That said, while more space would help, Neubauer said that must come with enough correctional staff to escort inmates to their check-ups and manage security issues, which is an ongoing challenge.

Tehran's two-track response

Looking forward, Boban said she wants to see more doctors and psychiatrists at the jail and extended service hours, but acknowledged there are recruitment challenges with bringing health-care staff to correctional settings.

The inquest jury also heard from Zarah Neubauer on Friday, a registered nurse who works at the Thunder Bay Jail and was there at the time of Mamakwa's death. Neubauer described the jail as a loud, cramped space, making it challenging to provide health-care services .

However, she also told the jury there's a sense of community there. it feels like a submarine, she told the jury. I'd love to just blow a hole in the wall and build another section. The Thunder Bay Jail, located at 285 MacDougall St., shown on June 5, 2026.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

Neubauer said she wants to see nurses on site 24-7 at all correctional settings across Ontario, as well as a province-wide electronic medical record system that can be accessed by all care providers.

I wish that Ontario, across the board, physicians, GPs, the jail, hospiitals, that we were all under one program, she told the jury. That no matter where you are caring for an individual in Ontario, that you've access to see what has happened with your patient.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

Hope for Wellness: Sarah Law is a CBC News reporter based in Thunder Bay, Ont., and has also worked for newspapers and online publications elsewhere in the province. Have a story tip? You can reach her at sarah.law@cbc.ca