An inquest will be held into the death of Colin Pyne, a 26-year-old man who died while in custody at the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced Wednesday.
The decision was confirmed by Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Central Office, who said the inquest is required under Ontario law. Mr. Pyne died on Aug. 17, 2021, while incarcerated at the provincially operated correctional facility. Under the Coroners Act, deaths that occur in custody must be examined through a public inquest.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Pyne’s death and allow a jury to hear evidence related to the care, supervision and conditions under which he was being held. While an inquest does not determine civil or criminal liability, the jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.
Mandatory inquests are a key accountability mechanism within Ontario’s correctional and justice systems. They are intended to promote transparency in cases where individuals die while under the supervision of the state, including in jails, detention centres or psychiatric facilities. Recommendations stemming from inquests can influence policy changes, operational practices and funding decisions across multiple ministries.
In this case, the Ministry of the Solicitor General has not yet released details regarding the scope of the evidence to be presented or the witnesses expected to testify. Information about the date and venue of the inquest will be provided at a later time, according to the ministry.
The Central North Correctional Centre houses adult male inmates on remand or serving short sentences. Like other provincial institutions, it operates under the oversight of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, which is responsible for public safety, policing, corrections and emergency management in Ontario. Deaths in custody often prompt reviews of healthcare delivery, staffing levels, use-of-force protocols and mental health supports within facilities.
Although the announcement is procedural in nature, inquests can carry broader implications for government operations and public-sector risk management. Past inquests into deaths in custody have led to calls for enhanced medical screening, improved access to mental health services, changes to segregation practices and increased training for correctional staff. Implementing such recommendations can involve significant operational adjustments and financial investment.
For families of the deceased, an inquest provides a formal forum to obtain answers about how and why a death occurred. Proceedings are typically open to the public, and interested parties, including family members, unions, advocacy groups and government ministries, may seek standing to participate.
From a business and governance perspective, inquests also serve as an early warning system for systemic issues that may expose the province to legal, reputational or financial risk if left unaddressed. Recommendations, while not legally binding, are often closely scrutinized by policymakers, auditors and watchdog agencies.
Ontario conducts dozens of coroner’s inquests each year, though only a subset are mandatory. In addition to deaths in custody, mandatory inquests are required for certain workplace fatalities, deaths involving police action, and deaths occurring in specific care settings. The Office of the Chief Coroner oversees the process and appoints a coroner to preside over each inquest.
The ministry emphasized that further details about the inquest into Mr. Pyne’s death, including scheduling and location, will be released once arrangements are finalized. Members of the public seeking background on how inquests operate are directed to provincial resources outlining the coroner’s system and the role of juries.
As the process moves forward, the inquest is expected to draw attention from legal experts, corrections officials and advocacy organizations focused on inmate health and safety, underscoring the continuing scrutiny of Ontario’s correctional system and its obligations to those in its care.
