May 4, 2017 - The City of Thunder Bay welcomes the announcement from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services that funding has been approved for the construction of a new 325-bed multi-purpose correctional centre to replace the existing Thunder Bay Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.

"We appreciate the Province's commitment in supporting the long-term transformation of the correctional system," said Mayor Keith Hobbs.

"We would like to sincerely thank Minister Michael Gravelle and Minister Bill Mauro for their hard work and support. This is something the City of Thunder Bay has been advocating for a number of years, primarily through its Intergovernmental Affairs Committee."

Building on this investment, the Province will work to transform healthcare services in correctional facilities, including exploring options to shift the oversight and provision of healthcare services from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. There will also be new legislation introduced in fall 2017 to support corrections reform.  The Province will also implement an enhanced model of independent oversight and governance of the adult corrections system, including segregation.

"We are thrilled that we can move forward with a new facility," said Councillor Joe Virdiramo, Chair of the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee. "I would like to thank the Intergovernmental Affairs committee for their perseverance over the years in advocating for this new facility, and to members of City Administration and the Thunder Bay Police Services Board for their involvement.

"We also hope to see investment in social development and prevention to reduce the flow into the correctional system."

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Contact: Stacey Levanen, Supervisor - Corporate Communications, 625-3650