There were 49 inmates relocated to the jail in Kamloops from the Okanagan Correctional Centre earlier this month, NL News has learned.

It’s unclear if inmates who were moved to the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre remain there.

About half of the inmates at the maximum-security jail were moved elsewhere when it was under an evacuation alert because of the Eagle Bluff wildfire burning nearby.

Liberal Kamloops-North MLA Peter Milobar says there should have been no harm for the Ministry of Public Safety to share that information publicly, saying it likely could’ve been handled with a housekeeping-type press release.

“In this case, because KRCC has seen a diminishing of numbers, as my understanding, since the (OCC) came open, there in all likelihood was the capacity to support 49 inmates to come in temporarily during a wildfire. To me, the crux of the matter is about accountability and about public information.”

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth was not available to comment on the situation, after a request had been made yesterday by NL News.

“We are unable to confirm any more details due to security protocols. It’s for the safety and security of the public in general that we do not share the details related to business continuity plans and transfers,” a spokesperson for the Ministry says in an email.

Milobar says there would be a benefit to explain to the public exactly what was happening and to show that proper procedures had been taken.

“The fact that the Ministry themselves will not issue a proper statement to make sure the public understands exactly what’s going on within in their own community, as it relates to Corrections, is usually – and in this case I would assume, given the Minister is not available for comment – is a direction straight from the Minister’s office to not say anything. That is not acceptable.”