Ottawa’s allocation of $1.3 billion for the construction of a new hospital for inmates in New Brunswick has been criticized by Correctional Investigator of Canada Ivan Zinger as a significant misallocation of resources. In his latest report, Zinger suggests that Correctional Service Canada should have considered partnering with provincial facilities for acute mental health services instead of pursuing the construction of a standalone facility. He emphasized that the allocated funds could have been utilized to enhance bed capacity through such partnerships, offering a more compassionate, cost-effective, and sustainable approach in the long run.
Zinger expressed concern over the proximity of the new federal project to the Dorchester Penitentiary, emphasizing the importance of providing mental health care for inmates in a setting outside the prison environment. He highlighted that individuals with serious mental illness should be treated as patients first and not solely as inmates. Zinger also criticized CSC’s current approach of providing specialized psychiatric care internally, urging the government to reassess its strategy.
While Zinger was not available for immediate comment, he has called on the federal government to reconsider its decision regarding the new facility. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated that he would collaborate with the Office of the Correctional Investigator to address the concerns raised in the report. However, the government’s official response indicated that it would proceed with the construction of the new facility, despite Zinger’s recommendation to cancel it.
Recent reports revealed that the project’s cost has surged to $1.3 billion, significantly exceeding the initial estimate of $400 million set in 2021. This project aims to replace the Shepody Healing Centre within the Dorchester Penitentiary, which has been criticized for its inadequate conditions by a psychiatrist working there. The new facility is planned to be situated in the Beauséjour riding, represented by cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc, who acknowledged the increased budget without specifying a precise amount.
Zinger’s recommendations align with the viewpoint that individuals with severe mental health issues should be transferred to community-based psychiatric hospitals for more appropriate care during acute psychiatric crises or persistent self-harming behaviors. Despite the rise in costs, Luc Doucet, the former director of the Shepody Centre, defended the necessity of establishing a new center outside the penitentiary walls, emphasizing the importance of timely and effective treatment to ensure public safety upon inmates’ release.