The Correctional Investigator of Canada, Ivan Zinger, criticized Ottawa’s decision to allocate $1.3 billion for a new hospital for inmates in New Brunswick, calling it a misallocation of resources. Zinger suggested that Correctional Service Canada should have partnered with provincial facilities for mental health services, emphasizing the benefits of a more humane, cost-effective, and sustainable approach. He argued that offering mental health care for inmates outside of prison settings would be more appropriate.
Zinger emphasized the need to prioritize patients’ well-being over their inmate status, particularly for individuals with serious mental illnesses. He highlighted the inconsistency in how physical and mental health care are handled within the correctional system. Zinger’s report urged the federal government to reconsider the construction plan for the new facility. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree expressed willingness to address the issues raised in the report but confirmed the government’s decision to proceed with the construction despite Zinger’s recommendation to cancel it.
Recent reports revealed that the project’s cost has ballooned to $1.3 billion, significantly higher than the initial $400 million estimate in 2021. The new hospital will replace the Shepody Healing Centre at the Dorchester Penitentiary and will be located in the Beauséjour riding, represented by Dominic LeBlanc. LeBlanc acknowledged the increased budget without specifying the exact amount.
Zinger reiterated the need to transfer individuals with severe mental illnesses to community-based psychiatric hospitals better equipped to meet their needs. Despite the cost escalation, the former director of the Shepody Centre, Luc Doucet, defended the project, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention to ensure the well-being of individuals and reduce risks to society upon their release.
