N.B. public safety minister defends new jail after costs more than double to $66 million
The New Brunswick government says cost estimates for the new jail in Grand Lake, which have more than doubled, won’t derail the $66 million project.
When it was first announced in 2021, costs for the proposed Central New Brunswick Correctional Centre were pegged at $32 million.
Last year, that estimate increased to $42 million.
With departmental estimates underway inside the New Brunswick Legislature, a new estimate of $66 million was revealed.
This week at estimates, Department of Public Safety Minister Kris Austin blamed the latest cost estimate increase on inflation and referred to it as “the same kind of sticker shock you get when you go to the grocery store.”
“I went back to my department and said look, if you can sharpen your pencil and find every savings you can. I know they have already done that in several cases because the $66 million could’ve been higher,” said Austin, on Thursday. “But they’ve weened that back as much as they could.”
Austin said a more definitive cost estimate would be available later this fall during the tendering process, but didn’t detail what had already been scaled back by department staff.
‘Alarming’ cost estimate
Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc said the new $66 million cost estimate was “alarming,” and asked if the project would be “reconsidered” due to the higher estimate.
“At this point and time it’s very concerning about the increase in cost of that institution,” said LeBlanc, on Friday. “We’re even into the [request for proposal] section.”
Austin called the need for a new jail “critical,” citing 106 per cent capacity at correctional facilities on April 1.
Earlier this month, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Richard Ames said two phases of the Grand Lake project should be finished by August, including tree clearing, site excavation, and grading.
Initial plans had the new jail being built within Fredericton’s Vanier Industrial Park. The provincial government abandoned that plan, following a mix of opinion around the neighbourhood. The Grand Lake location was announced in late July 2023.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.