An inmate protest at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre ended Wednesday as inmates in protective custody ate the lunch and dinner they were provided by the centre.

Bob Riches, the deputy minister of Justice, said an inmate created a stir among his peers in protective custody after he felt he hadn't received enough Tylenol for pain issues.

Riches said the inmate had received the medication, but wanted more before the typical six-hour time period between doses had elapsed.

Concerned about the level of medical care, Riches said, approximately 15 inmates refused to eat food provided at meals as of March 20.

The inmates did continue to eat food purchased at the canteen.

The issue was raised Wednesday in the legislative assembly by two members of the NDP, Copperbelt South MLA Lois Moorcroft and Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes MLA Kevin Barr.

In an interview, Moorcroft said the NDP had received four or five phone calls from inmates concerned about various issues at the new $70-million correctional centre, including concerns about the complaints process and medical care.

Moorcroft said the inmates who called said their complaints were not being dealt with in a timely manner. They also wanted a notice to be posted in each dorm outlining the complaints process.

Riches said each inmate was provided an inmate handbook that clearly outlines the complaints process and provides all relevant phone numbers.

"They're supposed to exhaust the internal correctional complaints process first and then if they're not satisfied, they can call the Inspection Standards Office, and they have a direct line to their phone number, someone answers that phone during business hours and there's an answering machine for after business hours,” said Riches.

If inmates still aren't satisfied, he said, they can call the Ombudsman's office.

Riches also said complaints are dealt with in a timely manner, as is outlined in legislation.

Moorcroft and Barr met with Justice Minister Mike Nixon last week. Barr said Wednesday in the house that he was pleased that some issues had been dealt with.

"I am glad that he worked with us and was able to have the staff distribute blankets to inmates who were cold and that inmates are now able to smudge,” Barr said.

"Access to cultural practices can have a grounding effect for the inmates, so I'm glad that this is now available to them,” he said, before asking a question about inmates refusing food.

Moorcroft also raised concerns about a lack of new programming and limited access to certain facilities in the new centre, "the open visiting room, a feature of the new facility that supports inmates to visit with their families and keep connected to their community, isn't yet open.

"The healing room hasn't been used. The library isn't yet available for inmates to read books or magazines, and currently no new programs are being offered,” she told the house yesterday.

Riches said the healing room is open and available for use. The visiting centre is also open and there have been visits. He said the library is still being stocked with books from the old facility.

"To be honest, it wasn't our number-one priority; our number-one priority is the safety, security, food, laundry, all those kind of things.

"We'll have the books out to the inmates shortly. All the inmates have televisions in their cells, so they have access to information,” he said.

With regard to programming, Riches said counselling, case management and alcohol, drug , and violence counselling are all running.

A company recently visited the correctional centre to train probation officers and corrections staff in the delivery of cognitive skills programming, which he said will be running shortly.

Moorcroft was further concerned that members of the correctional centre's elder advisory committee had not been able to visit the centre nor work with inmates.

Riches said at least one elder had been working and visiting with the inmates.

Others had visited with the superintendent Wednesday and will be at the centre again tomorrow.

Riches said some of the elders had not visited the new correctional facility because Robert Jackson, an elder in Teslin, had passed away March 15, the day the centre opened.