Burnside Site under Consideration

Justice Minister Michael Baker announced earlier today that the province is considering building the correctional centre and forensic psychiatry hospital in Burnside Industrial Park. Negotiations with the Halifax Regional Municipality will begin immediately.

"We made a commitment to move these facilities out of Bedford and into a non-residential area", said Mr. Baker. "The Burnside location is properly zoned, is close to the services we need and could be cost-effective if a land swap can be arranged. This is why we're pursuing this option -- we want to keep costs to a minimum."

Over the past few weeks, Mr. Baker has met with representatives of several communities interested in housing these facilities. While each community presented attractive alternatives to the Bedford site, the Halifax Regional Municipality is near the courts, emergency services, and the forensic psychiatry resources already used by both facilities.

The facilities will replace the Halifax Correctional Centre in Sackville and the forensic unit of the Nova Scotia Hospital. Both facilities require constant upgrading and renovation to meet safety standards. The forensic unit of the Nova Scotia Hospital continues to transfer patients out of province for treatment, the costs of which are expected to reach $4 million per year by 2001-02.

The new correctional centre will house 272 inmates, including 48 female offenders. The new forensic psychiatry hospital will include 60 patient beds, a 24-bed mentally ill offender unit and two, four-bed transition units. The facilities will share kitchen and laundry facilities, as well as program and treatment resources.

The development agreement with Read Management Ltd., signed in April 1999, has been extended until Sept. 17, 1999, to allow the government to locate a new site.