Allan v. Canada
(Commissioner of Corrections)


(1990), 38 F.T.R. 176, [1990] F.C.J. No.845 (F.C.T.D.)

    A, an inmate who enjoyed weight lifting, wanted the institution to provide appropriate clothing and footwear or allow him to use monies held in trust for him, as his footwear required special orthopedic adjustment. As a result, A sought an order of mandamus to compel the CSC pursuant to the Penitentiary Service Regulations to either supply proper recreational clothing and footwear to inmates or to allow him the use of monies held in trust by the institution for that purpose.
    In dismissing this application, MacKay J. was of the view that although there was a duty on those responsible for the operation of the institution to provide recreational clothing and footwear, that duty was imprecisely defined by the Regulations. Unless it could be determined to be unfulfilled, which MacKay J. did not find to be established here in light of the provision of common user equipment in the institution, then reasonable discretion on the part of administrators in meeting their duty must be recognized and the court ought not to intervene. Moreover, there was insufficient evidence that the inmate's request for special orthopedic footwear was refused by the institution.
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