Corrections actions ‘unacceptable’ but Harper stays out of Ashley Smith case

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls the Ashley Smith case a “terrible tragedy” and “completely unacceptable” in the way Corrections Canada is supposed to do business.

Smith was a troubled teen who choked to death in her prison cell five years ago.

An Ontario inquest into Smith’s death has been tied up in knots as the government argues the coroner has no jurisdiction to delve into federal matters.

The opposition accuses the government of trying to block the inquest from getting at the truth.

Harper says he’ll let the “arguments between lawyers” play out and won’t interfere.

But he says the government will look at whether more money is needed for mental health care in prisons.