Three dozen women gathered in front of Madeleine Meilleur's Correctional Services Minister.Ottawa office to protest on how Julie Bilotta's case was handled.
Julie Bilotta gave birth in an Ottawa jail cell and staff didn't call a doctor for hours.
Just hearing about somebody who had to give birth alone in a prison cell without any comfort, without any support, without even any medical support is shameful," said Emily Watkins, protestor.
The group of mothers and children said Bilotta's case is typical of what they say is systemic, inhumane treatment of women in the prison and correctional system.
Bilotta has not been convicted but is being held for allegedly breaking the conditions of her bail arising from several drug and fraud charges.
These mothers want her released to care for her baby son.
“Julie Bilotta has only held her baby boy once. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital immediately after she gave birth. Shame!" said Dawn Moore.
“People are hiding behind policy and saying there was no policy in the works to know how to deal with a pregnant woman who was going to give labour in the jail. When she was incarcerated, that should have been addressed," said Shelley Schroeder.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Norman Fetterley.
