The province has signed a deal with a private company to contract out food services in eight Saskatchewan correctional facilities.

Compass Group Canada will take over meal production at the facilities for the next five years.

“This decision will allow us to reinvest in programming and providing the best possible service to our offender population,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said in a written release.  “Contracting with Compass Group will bring efficiency and consistency to food service delivery in our correctional facilities while saving valuable taxpayers' dollars.”
The company already has experience providing food service at correctional facilities in Alberta, Ontario , and British Columbia.

Current food services staff will be offered the opportunity to retrain as correctional workers, or provided other support through their collective bargaining agreement.

The province expects to save nearly $12 million over the term of the contract.