A recent update reveals that the anticipated budget for constructing a new medical facility for inmates within federal institutions has surged to $1.3 billion, significantly surpassing the initial $400 million estimate disclosed in 2021. The funding greenlight for this endeavor in New Brunswick was granted by the Treasury Board in December 2024; however, the augmented figure has not been publicly disclosed as Ottawa is presently engaged in a competitive bidding phase with construction companies.
Insiders with knowledge of the situation have indicated that the project managed to weather the storm of Ottawa’s spending review prior to the federal budget on November 4, despite mounting pressures to curtail expenses within Correctional Service Canada. The proposed 155-bed facility will provide bilingual mental and physical healthcare services to incarcerated men and women under the federal correctional system. It is slated to be housed in a new structure, replacing the outdated edifice with just a third of the capacity at Dorchester Penitentiary.
Situated in the Beauséjour electoral district, which is overseen by Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, the new facility has been on the radar for some time. In a press briefing held in December 2024, LeBlanc hinted that the estimated cost of the new center would hover around $1 billion, drawing parallels to the Confederation Bridge connecting New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island inaugurated in 1997.
The envisaged $1.3 billion budget for the facility would represent a 30% escalation compared to the $1 billion contract for the Confederation Bridge, as per insights from federal sources and documentation. Confidentiality was extended by Radio-Canada to federal informants who were not authorized to discuss this matter publicly.
The Correctional Service Canada aims to finalize the project by 2032, as per outlined plans. In 2023, during his tenure as the minister of public safety, LeBlanc was briefed about the escalating budget for the project. While specific financial details were redacted, it was revealed that LeBlanc advocated for maintaining the project’s integrity despite the cost surge.
The new facility, as per federal records, is set to cater to the intricate healthcare needs of federal offenders across Canada, encompassing both physical and complex clinical and mental health requirements. Positioned in southeastern New Brunswick on the premises of the Dorchester Penitentiary, the proposed center will supersede the 53-bed Shepody Healing Centre.
Dr. Louis Thériault, a psychiatrist at the recovery center, has long voiced concerns about the inadequate and unsafe conditions within the current facilities for inmates and staff at Dorchester Penitentiary, which was established in 1880. Describing the existing setup as substandard compared to other treatment centers nationwide, Dr. Thériault highlighted issues like dungeon-like isolation cells, deficient windows, and cramped spaces that pose risks to all occupants.