The Drumheller Institution is one step closer to its expansion, and construction has already begun.
In August of 2010, the expansion, which would see 96 beds added to the Medium Security Unit and 50 beds to the Minimum Security Unit, was announced. The project budgeted $15 million for the Medium Security Unit expansion and $110 million for the Minimum Security Unit expansion.
Since then Dowland Contracting, headquartered in Innuvik was awarded the contract on October 4 of this year. The construction is valued at $10,826,723, before GST.
Work is currently underway.
The expansion, when announced, was said to increase the capacity of the Institution in response to the federal governments’ Truth in Sentencing Act. Prior to the act, a person who is being held in presentence custody would receive two-for-one credit for their time served. With the Truth In Sentencing Act a person would receive credit at a ratio of one-to-one, except when circumstances justify up at a 1.5-to-one ratio.
The federal government is currently work to passing its Safe Street and Communities act, which includes toughening up penalties for a number of crimes.
At the time of the initial announcement, then Warden Mike Hanly expected the expansion could create about 30 full time positions.
While the 96 bed Medium Security Unit expansion is underway, Melissa Hart, senior media relations officer for Correctional Services Canada says a competitive process is underway for the 50 unit Minimum Security annex and construction is expected to be underway in the spring.
The project is anticipated to be complete in 2013-2014.
