New provincial jail site named
Posted Nov 1, 2010 02:50:03 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A proposed 100-cell jail in Nova Scotia will be built in the Thorburn area.
Provincial Justice Minister Ross Landry ended months of speculation Monday by making the announcement at a firehall just outside of his Pictou County riding.
The $31-million facility will be built just off the Trans-Canada Highway near the community of Coalburn. It is expected to employ about 70 people.
The project has triggered a lot of debate since the NDP canceled plans made by the previous Tory government for two new jails – one in Springhill and another in Antigonish.
Justice Minister Ross Landry says it makes good business sense to build a larger facility, more strategically located between Halifax and Cape Breton. He adds they’ll save $5.5 million in construction costs and $1.7 million every year in operating costs.
The tendering process for the project will begin immediately. The facility is expected to be completed in two to three years.
