The cost projection for a new medical facility for incarcerated individuals in federal prisons has surged to $1.3 billion, surpassing the initial $400 million estimate disclosed in 2021, as per federal records and insider information.
The funding for this venture in New Brunswick was greenlit by the Treasury Board in December 2024, yet the increased budget remains undisclosed due to ongoing negotiations with construction companies in Ottawa.
Insiders familiar with the situation reveal that the initiative cleared Ottawa’s financial scrutiny preceding the November 4 federal budget, despite pressures to curtail expenditures within Correctional Service Canada.
The upcoming 155-bed facility will provide bilingual mental and physical healthcare to male and female federal inmates, housed in a new edifice set to replace the outdated structure within Dorchester Penitentiary, boasting only a third of the capacity.
Situated in the Beauséjour district, represented by Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade, the new facility has been confirmed by LeBlanc to exceed the initial budget without specifying an exact amount.
LeBlanc likened the project’s scope to the Confederation Bridge connecting New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, implying a comparable scale during his tenure as finance minister.
The forecasted $1.3 billion allocation for the forthcoming facility surpasses the Confederation Bridge contract by 30%, as detailed in federal sources and documents, with Radio-Canada safeguarding the anonymity of informants not authorized to divulge this information.
Correctional Service Canada aims to finalize construction by 2032, with earlier records revealing that LeBlanc, while serving as public safety minister in 2023, was alerted to escalating expenses, yet opted to uphold the project’s original blueprint despite cost escalations.
Anne Kelly, commissioner of Correctional Service Canada, recalled LeBlanc’s directive to maintain the project’s integrity amid rising expenses during their initial discussions.
Government documents outline the proposed facility’s comprehensive capabilities in addressing the multifaceted healthcare needs of federal inmates nationwide.
The new center, slated for southeastern New Brunswick, will be erected on the premises of Dorchester Penitentiary, supplanting the 53-bed Shepody Healing Centre, as advocated by Dr. Louis Thériault, a longstanding psychiatrist at the penitentiary.
Dr. Thériault has long voiced concerns about the inadequate and unsafe conditions for both inmates and staff within current facilities, emphasizing the urgent need for improved infrastructure at the historic Dorchester Penitentiary, established in 1880.