Toothbrushes enroute to HMP after shortage forced inmates to go without, government says

Michelle Fowler used to have constant worries about her son's mental health and addictions. When he was incarcerated at Her Majesty's Penitentiary last year she thought it might be the tough love he needed. She doesn't believe that anymore. Connection and love are important in life and the inmates inside of HMP do not have those. Fowler was shocked earlier this month to learn of something else her son didn't have. A toothbrush. CBC News reported on Tuesday that the institution had run out of jail-safe toothbrushes. Fowler was the first to sound the alarm on the issue in a social media post from October 20th. It was flagged to the Minister of Justice the following day. And now, seven days later, new toothbrushes are finally set to arrive at HMP. It's also my understanding that the toothbrush problem has been resolved. and I think they're looking as well for long-term solutions so that this doesn't happen again in the future. For Michelle Fowler, it's unacceptable. Her son, Zachary Mulrooney, is awaiting trial for manslaughter. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, she says he still deserves dignity. Everybody deserves the right to basic necessities of life. And, you know, I care. Other people care. Society lacks compassion for those in prison, but I don't. And I'm not afraid to speak anymore. I'm sick of being silent and I'm going to keep speaking for the inmates at HMP. Fowler says toothbrushes are the tip of the iceberg at HMP, a facility rife with problems and decades past due for replacement. But without a shift in attitudes, she's worried problems will persist long after these doors are closed for good. Ryan Cook, CBC News, St. John's.