Sarah Law · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 18, 2026 3:48 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 18

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing criticism for comparing the coming Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to a Four Seasons Hotel, less than a week after an inquest into the death of an inmate at the century-old Thunder Bay Jail.

Kevin Mamakwa, a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and the nephew of Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, died in 2020.

The recently completed inquest yielded 22 recommendations, all aimed at Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General. They include developing a plan to decommission the jail within five years of the opening of the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, which is under construction. Also referred to as the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, it's expected to be operational next year and is projected to house 387 men and 75 women.

The Thunder Bay Correctional Complex under construction on Highway 61 is shown Thursday. The $1.2-billion facility is expected to be substantially completed by November and fully operational in 2027. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

During an unrelated news conference in the northwestern Ontario city Tuesday, Ford was asked about recent calls from First Nation leaders to close the old jail, which MPP Mamakwa calls “a death trap.”

• Jury at Kevin Mamakwa inquest targets Thunder Bay Jail — called 'death trap' by his uncle, an Ontario MPP

“We just want to make sure we get some consultation, and we built a nice jail, very nice jail up here," Ford said. "Matter of fact, it looks like the Four Seasons Hotel. I'm not sold on that. When people commit crimes, they shouldn't be in this fancy-dancey jail.

“But we're going to invest in it and let's see what we do with the old jail. Do we renovate it? Because we need more cells.”

Comments expose 'the real Doug Ford,' MPP says

Inquest jurors heard that 53 per cent of Thunder Bay Jail inmates identify as Indigenous, though others said the actual number could be upwards of 60 to 75 per cent. 

The MPP took aim at Ford’s comments.

“When I hear that, his thought is that we [Indigenous people] do not deserve anything good. We do not deserve anything nice,” Mamakwa told CBC News on Thursday.

“To me, that's just what he thinks of First Nations, which is not surprising. That's the real Doug Ford.”

Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa is a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation. (Sarah Law/CBC)

Premier's office emphasizes work with Indigenous partners

When asked for clarification on Ford's comments, the premier's office sent an emailed statement to CBC News on Thursday afternoon, saying the province is spending $3 billion to build 2,500 to new jail beds and hire more corrections staff.

“Dangerous, repeat offenders belong behind bars and to keep them off the streets, our government is expanding correctional capacity across the province,” it said.

As construction at the new correctional complex continues, the Ontario government “is working with Indigenous partners to improve culturally responsive services and supports in correctional facilities.”

Correctional staff receive Indigenous awareness training, developed in consultation with Indigenous advisers, the premier's office said. People in custody also have access to a range of supports related to mental health, addictions and social services, it said.

Kevin Mamakwa was 27 years old when he died in custody at the Thunder Bay Jail on June 2, 2020. His uncle, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, says Kevin was very involved in sports but struggled with mental health and addiction issues. (Submitted by Sol Mamakwa)

The Mamakwa inquest jury heard concerns about poor conditions, overcrowding and lack of staff at the Thunder Bay Jail, which has an operational capacity of 134 inmates but often has more than 200 at any given time. 

The new $1.2-billion correctional complex on Highway 61 was meant to replace the jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. However, both institutions will remain open even after the complex is up and running, with the jail staying open for at least another five years.

WATCH | First Nation leaders call for closure of Thunder Bay Jail:

Lindsay Martin is executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario, a non-profit organization that supports women and gender-diverse people involved in the criminal justice system. 

Amid concerns over possible human rights violations at the jail, Martin said Ford’s comments “come from a place of privilege, someone who definitely doesn't understand the complexities of what happens for the communities that are incarcerated.”

• Kevin Mamakwa inquest hears of 'chronically' understaffed Thunder Bay Jail

“I think the stigma that comes right from the top, from your premier, looking down on people who are struggling with issues that have been created by lack of funding and resources in community is completely blindsided,” they said.

Lindsay Martin, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario, took issue with the premier's comments. (Sarah Law/CBC)

Ford was also asked Tuesday about inquest jury recommendations to provide more mental health, addictions and Indigenous cultural support at Thunder Bay’s jails. He responded, “I’m all for it.”

“Any way I can help people if it comes to drugs, alcohol, any addictions — I'm all in."

Call for more support rehabilitation for inmates

Mamakwa said that statement by Ford doesn’t align with his other comments Tuesday about keeping “'the bad guys in jail.’”

• New Thunder Bay Correctional Complex key subject at ongoing coroner's inquest

“It's almost as if he's speaking [from] two sides of the mouth,” the MPP said. 

Rather than building more jail beds, Martin said, the province should spend more money on services that support rehabilitation.

“When you're being released into homelessness with no supports after incarceration and the funding is being cut from that area, where do people go? It's almost like they're looking to have that door continue to revolve," Martin said.

• Coroner's inquest jury hears about health-care challenges at the Thunder Bay Jail

“Their response to the lack of social supports in community is to build more prisons or keep aging infrastructure open, and I think that's a grave mistake if you're actually thinking about upstream planning for communities in the future.”

In Martin’s view, it’s important to think critically about how issues like criminal justice are framed by people in power.

“I think that [Ford is] just feeding off of this rhetoric that communities are feeling less and less safe. It isn't about public safety when we're incarcerating people — that's about capital and control.”