Canada: Official Defends Order for Flavored Condoms for Jails

Prisoners' rights advocates defended a Manitoba government order for 40,000 flavored condoms that was cancelled following a public outcry. "The fact of the matter is that sexual activity takes place in prison facilities whether politicians like talking about it or not," said Graham Stewart, executive director of the John Howard Society. "We do not want prisons to become incubators for a public health crisis." Stewart said the flavor of condoms should not "taint" the issue in policy decisions. "I don't care what they taste like," he said. "I do care that they're made available."

On Sept. 12, Manitoba ordered a two-year supply of lubricated non-spermicidal flavored condoms to distribute to prisoners in 10 facilities. Manitoba has been supplying condoms to inmates since 1998 and was considering bulk purchases as a cost-cutting measure.

"I think the thinking behind that is obviously that this will make it more usable by inmates," said Jim Wolfe, assistant deputy minister for Manitoba Corrections, adding that flavored condoms cost only slightly more than regular condoms. But after reporters started asking questions about the order, the government decided to buy a smaller number of regular condoms and revisit the bulk ordering idea later.

The $8,400-order (US$6,230) of condoms was to be distributed in jails and youth centers in Winnipeg, Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, The Pas and Beausejour.

Opposition Conservatives condemned the idea of a flavored condom expenditure. "This government can't find the money so that farmers can feed and clothe their children through this BSE [mad cow disease] crisis, yet somehow they can find this amount of money to give flavored condoms ... to criminals," said Myrna Driedger, Conservative health critic.

After learning of the order, Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh ordered a review of safe sex education in provincial adult and youth correctional facilities.

Back to other news for September 19, 2003