Convicts at federal prisons have a few days reprieve before smoking ban kicks in

A total ban on smoking at all federal correctional facilities was set to start Wednesday. However, Darcy Begrand, spokesmen at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, says the ban will now begin May 5, and only for inmates in maximum security.

Begrand says Correctional Service of Canada is now phasing in the ban.

He says that's so employees have the ability to address any issues that arise more easily than if all the facilities across the country did it in one day.

Medium security inmates will have to butt out May 20, and those in minimum security June 2.