Correctional Service of Canada: Harper Government Announces Action for Safety of Canadian Streets and Communities

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 10, 2011) - Today, the Harper Government announced further action for the safety of Canadian streets and communities with an investment to help keep dangerous criminals behind bars. The $55-million announcement to expand federal institutions in Saskatchewan and Alberta in order to better provide for the protection of Canadians was made by the Honourable Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety.

"Our Government is proud to be on the right side of this issue — the side of law-abiding citizens, the side of victims who want justice, and the side that understands the cost of a safe and secure society is an investment worth making," said the Honourable Laurie Hawn, on behalf of Minister Toews. "We are reaffirming our government's commitment to Saskatchewan and Alberta, and helping ensure that criminals serve sentences that better reflect the severity of their crimes."

This $55-million expansion will involve the construction of one new 50-bed living unit at Riverbend Institution in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 40 new accommodation spaces at Willow Cree Healing Lodge at the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation in Saskatchewan and one new 96-bed living unit at Edmonton Institution. It is anticipated that these expansions will be completed in 2013-2014.

"In the previous system, a violent criminal sentenced to nine years in prison could potentially be on our streets in as little as three years if he or she spent two years awaiting trial. This possibility is not acceptable to Canadians," said Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert. "We are acting to ensure that criminals pay their debt – their full debt – to society."

It is anticipated that over the coming years, CSC will be adding over 2,700 beds to men's and women's facilities across Canada.