The Correctional Investigator of Canada, Ivan Zinger, criticized Ottawa’s decision to allocate $1.3 billion for constructing a new hospital for inmates in New Brunswick, calling it a significant misallocation of resources. Zinger suggested that Correctional Service Canada should have opted for partnerships with provincial facilities for acute mental health services, which he believes would be more humane, cost-effective, and sustainable in the long run. He emphasized that mental health care for inmates should be provided outside the prison environment and condemned the location of the proposed federal project next to the Dorchester Penitentiary.
Zinger highlighted that individuals with serious mental illnesses should be viewed as patients first, not solely as inmates. He pointed out the discrepancy in how CSC handles physical care versus mental health care, urging a shift towards external specialized psychiatric care for inmates needing such services.
While Zinger was not available for comment, his report urges the federal government to reconsider its current plan. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated that he will collaborate with the Office of the Correctional Investigator to address the report’s concerns. However, the government’s official response rejects Zinger’s recommendation to halt the construction of the new facility.
According to recent reports, the cost of the new inmate hospital project has surged to $1.3 billion, a significant increase from the initial $400 million budget in 2021. The new facility aims to replace the Shepody Healing Centre within the Dorchester Penitentiary, with the construction set to take place in the Beauséjour riding represented by Dominic LeBlanc. Despite the escalating budget, former Shepody Centre director Luc Doucet defended the necessity of the project, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention to support the rehabilitation of inmates with mental health issues.
