New rules are being put into place to make it harder for federal prisoners to be transferred to Indigenous "healing lodges'' if they're serving long sentences.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters these transfers will only be allowed in the latter stages of a prisoner's sentence.
The move comes after public anger that Terri-Lynne McClintic, convicted of murdering eight-year-old Tori Stafford, was moved to a healing lodge in Saskatchewan from a traditional prison.
McClintic was eight years into a life sentence for the abduction, rape and murder of the Ontario girl — her first eligibility for parole won't come until she's served 25 years.
The Correctional Service of Canada will also have to consider inmates' behaviour and how close they are to being eligible for unescorted temporary absences from prison before transferring them.
Healing lodges are meant to help with Indigenous inmates' rehabilitation and to get them ready to return to their communities.
— with files from The Canadian Press