Construction of the new 216-cell expansion to the Surrey Pretrial Centre is officially underway.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond was on hand today to witness cement pouring for the foundation of what will be B.C.'s largest provincial correctional centre.

The $90-million expansion project will create 200 to 250 jobs during the construction phase. Upon completion - expected late next year - the expansion will double the centre's current capacity and provide the equivalent of 130 new corrections positions.

Numerous innovations in design and surveillance, including state-of-the-art security systems, mean the facility, when operational, will provide a safer operating environment for both staff and inmates. In addition, the project is expected to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification - the highest level of sustainability ever for a B.C. correctional facility.

The project is the centrepiece of the $185-million first phase of the Province's historic capital plan to expand correctional facilities and address capacity issues. Other expansion activities completed or planned include:

• A 20-cell expansion for women at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, which opened in December 2010.
• 104 new cells at Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, which will be complete and operational later this year.
• A new, 360-cell Okanagan correctional centre, which will be a major part of the second phase of the plan. In February, the Province announced its preferred site for building this new centre, on Osoyoos Indian Band land near Oliver.

When complete, the Okanagan facility will contribute to an overall increase of almost 800 new cells on the Lower Mainland, in the Interior and in the North since 2008.

Quote:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Today, we're literally laying the foundation for up to 250 construction jobs, 130 future BC Corrections jobs and other economic benefits that this project will bring to Surrey. With construction underway, we are also on track to achieve our goal of increasing capacity in our corrections centres, to keep our staff and communities safe."

Quick Facts:

• Under a fixed-price, performance-based, public-private partnership, Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerships Surrey is responsible for delivering the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre Expansion (SPSCE) project on time and on budget.
• This approach means the Province will retain ownership of the facilities and control over the programs and services delivered, while any cost overruns or schedule delays rest with the private partner, not the taxpayer.
• The project is designed to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification - the highest level of sustainability ever for a B.C. correctional facility.
• All correctional services at the expanded centre, including front-line supervision of inmates, will continue to be funded by the Province and delivered by BC Corrections.
• The existing Surrey Pretrial Services Centre employs the equivalent of 199 staff.
• Currently, North Fraser Pretrial Centre is B.C.'s largest provincial correctional centre, with 300 cells. Upon completion of the SPSCE project, Surrey's centre will become B.C.'s largest, with 365 cells.

Learn More:

Take a "virtual" tour of the outside of the expanded Surrey Pretrial Services Centre as it will look when complete: http://youtu.be/6RIIAbl6X_0

More information on BC Corrections, its facilities and programs is at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/corrections/index.htm

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961