Fredericton to seek more than $100K in costs associated with cancelled jail plan
Mayor Kate Rogers says city spent staff time and money on preparing for jail project
Those costs came from site preparation and staff time used up to accommodate the government's proposal to buy 25 acres from the city, then rezone the land so the province could build a new $42-million corrections centre.
"Most of it is just development costs and prepping of the land," Rogers said Thursday.
"Clearly, a lot of planning time also went into making this reality," she said, citing the required rezoning, which had to go through the planning advisory committee as well.
"So there was a lot of that type of staff time."
On Monday, four months after the city gave the province the approval to build a jail, the Department of Justice and Public Safety issued a brief news release saying it would no longer build it in Fredericton.
That process had started last fall, with councillors agreeing to sell the province a plot of city-owned land to build it in the Vanier Industrial Park.
The
city was planning to sell the provincial government a piece of land in
the Vanier Industrial Park for a jail to be built on and had already
approved the necessary rezoning for the project. (Google Earth)
The land then had to be rezoned, which involved consideration by the city's planning advisory committee, which recommended against granting the rezoning.
In January, the decision came to councillors, who heard a myriad of submissions from the public, with some for the jail, and many — primarily in the Lincoln Heights neighbourhood — against it.
Councillors ultimately voted in favour of granting the rezoning, which was required for the land sale to go through.
In its news release, the Department of Justice and Public Safety said it cancelled its plan over concerns raised by residents, adding that it is now looking at a location outside the city to minimize any perceived impact on residents.
Initially announced in fall 2021, the proposal to build a jail in Fredericton was something Rogers welcomed, citing positive economic spin-offs expected from the new jobs that would be created to staff it.
On Thursday, Rogers avoided sharing her personal reaction to the province's latest decision.
"We will have to find ways now to find those economic spin-offs in other ways, which we will do," she said.
"These things happen, and I think that is part of our role as leaders, is accepting that, and... making sure that whatever tax-payer money went in to trying to make this facility a reality that, that those costs are covered."
Rogers said she hasn't spoken with provincial officials about their willingness to reimburse the city for costs associated with the jail proposal.
"I'm quite certain we have a very productive working relationship," she said. "I'm quite certain that will all fall out as it should."
CBC News asked for an interview with Justice and Public Safety Minister Kris Austin Thursday but did not receive one before deadline.
Justice
and Public Safety Minister Kris Austin's department issued a statement
saying residents' concerns prompted the decision to no longer build a
jail in Fredericton. (Patrick Richard/CBC)
Austin hasn't yet spoken publicly about the decision to no longer build a jail in Fredericton.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs said "significant opposition" to the Fredericton location was the reason his government opted out of the plan.
He said the province was still looking at other locations where the jail could potentially be built instead.
Surrounding municipal councils have since made pitches to the province to have the jail built in their communities.
Those include Grand Lake, which Austin's riding is included in, as well as Arcadia, which is part of Gagetown-Petitcodiac MLA Ross Wetmore's riding.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Why did we elect her???? she is out of touch with reality!!!
Rezoning for new $32-million jail rejected by Fredericton planning committee
Opponents tell committee the money would be better spent housing people, not jailing them
Committee members voted 4-3 this week to reject city staff recommendations to allow the jail to be built in the Vanier Industrial Park.
The issue will still go to council on Jan. 9, where councillors will hear public input. Council will vote on the issue in the second meeting of the year, on Jan. 23.
The planning committee report includes more than 60 letters of opposition, including one signed by multiple residents of Lincoln Heights, a nearby neighbourhood.
A
map of the proposed location of a provincial jail presented to the City
of Fredericton's planning advisory committee this week. (City of Fredericton)
The letters express concern for safety and property values, but the majority question the project to begin with, regardless of where it's built. Those letters say the province should be spending the money on affordable housing and mental health help instead of a $32-million jail.
"As a youth care worker in this city working to build a therapeutic home environment for apprehended children, I directly see the lack of mental health and addiction services and the need for change," wrote McKayla Arseneau.
"Building an expensive prison and then paying to simply sustain the lives of these vulnerable persons is not an
effective use of provincial funds."
Resident Dirk Groenenberg wrote to councillors opposing the project, saying, "This thing would house many who are now unhoused in Fredericton at much higher cost than to build more affordable housing, and give a much worse experience and chance at improving their lot than if given a chance at housing in the real community."
Many of the letters had the same wording, which includes a concern the jail "will be targeting the most vulnerable members of our communities: people with mental illness who live in poverty."
CBC has reported the province is withholding records that explain the reason for the decision to build this jail, but it has previously said a Fredericton jail is needed because of overpopulation and transportation issues for people who currently have to be held in Saint John.
The
land would be used for the construction of a jail based on the design
of the Dalhousie Regional Correctional Centre, according to a city staff
report. (CBC)
Men's jails were not overpopulated until months after the announcement of the new jail, CBC News analysis has found.
In November, councillors were split on whether to approve the sale of the land to the province. The sale was approved with a 6-4 vote.
That vote paved the way for the 25 acres to be sold to the province for $1,075,000. The site is made up of two adjoining parcels of land at the southern ends of Blizzard and Dorcas streets.
The land would be used for the construction of a jail based on the design of the Dalhousie Regional Correctional Centre, according to a city staff report.
The facility would have five units, each containing 20 beds, along with nine segregation and admission cells.
In the report presented to committee members Wednesday night, staff acknowledged the "higher-level social issues raised by this proposal," but said from a planning perspective, the zoning is reasonable "given the location of the site in the far reaches of the Vanier industrial area."
Coun. Eric Megarity voted in favour of the zoning recommendations. He said he looked at the issue only from a land-use perspective. He said in his opinion, the jail meets the requirements for this type of zoning.
"There could be a lot of more discussion and a lot of more presentations for that one particular item," he said.
City of Fredericton spokesperson Shasta Stairs said Thursday no city planning staff member would be available for an interview.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Aidan Cox
Proposed $32M Jail Meets Opposition From Planning Advisory Committee, Local Residents
By Arun Budhathoki, NB Media Co-op
December 23, 2022
FREDERICTON / UNCEDED WOLASTOQIYIK TERRITORY –
Fredericton’s Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) has recommended against a rezoning proposal to build a new jail in Vanier Industrial Park, signalling trouble ahead for the project.
The provincial government’s plan to build the $32-million jail, consisting of 109 beds, faced criticism when the rezoning proposal was presented to the committee on Dec. 14, 2022.
The provincial government had submitted an offer to purchase a parcel of land in the city-owned industrial area.
“At the Planning Advisory Committee, the applicant, who was from the Department of Justice and Public Safety, gave a pitch of why the correctional facility would be a good idea. And then there were many people who spoke against it,” said Valerya Edelman, a social worker and activist, in an interview with the NB Media Co-op.
She said the PAC chair indicated the committee had received some 80 letters opposing the project, over 20 of them living in the Lincoln Heights area near the industrial park.
The provincial government has argued that the new correctional facility is a solution to the overcrowding problem in existing prisons jailing men within the province. However, a CBC investigation noted men’s jails were not overpopulated until months after the announcement of the new jail.
The proposed correctional facility will “include five units, each containing 20 beds, plus nine segregation and admissions cells,” according to a media release from the province.
The rezoning proposal met criticisms from locals of the Lincoln Heights area, who say the jail will lower the market value of their homes and who fear social problems resulting from the jail, which would be some 700 metres away from the residential area.
“The government has thousands of acres of land well away from residential areas,” Linda Lee, a resident of the area, wrote to the PAC. ”Why would you even think to build this near family communities and what about the value of our homes.”
Opponents of the jail also told the committee the project would target the most vulnerable while doing nothing to address social problems such as poverty and drug addiction.
“We’re in the middle of an affordability crisis for housing, food, and fuel and the construction of a prison satisfies none of these needs,” wrote Liam Roy. “A prison in Fredericton would be a waste of time and resources better spent on addressing the actual, substantive crises affecting Frederictonians and New Brunswickers.”
The PAC recommended denying the zoning amendment required for the project, in a 4-3 vote.
The application, along with the PAC recommendation, will go to city council on January 9 and 23 for second and third readings.
The application will need an 8-4 vote in favour project to pass.
Greg Ericson, deputy mayor and Ward 8 councillor told the NB Media Co-op: “Council’s role with respect to re-zoning applications is complicated from a governance perspective. When deciding re-zoning issues under the Community Planning Act, Council serves in a quasi-judicial role.
“As such and until the public has a chance to share its views during the first and second reading of the potential change to the respective zoning bylaw, Council has traditionally refrained from public comment in order to treat the potential apprehension of bias respectfully.”
New Brunswick Minister of Infrastructure Jeff Carr has stated the province will plan to build the jail somewhere else in the province if the City of Fredericton rejects the rezoning.
Arun Budhathoki is a video-journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).
Summary of Qualifications
• Accumulated 5 years plus
experience in journalism and writing field, such as online and new
media, publishing articles and running a literary journal, and working
freelance for various companies.
• Published 6 literary books so
far: Edge, The Lost Boys of Kathmandu, Poems on Sikkim, Prisoner of an
IPad: New Poems, Second IN Love: Short Stories, and Going Home: Short
Stories.
• Specialties: Editing, Writing. Research. Analysis. Case Studies. Proposal Writing. Copywriting. Freelancing. Consultant.
•
Graduate of International Relations. Strong focus on international
politics--especially environmental security. My masters' thesis was
based on Environmental Security (a rather avoided field in IR).
I
have a strong interest in conflict resolution, human rights, and
environmental issues. Interests on IR topics: security, immigration,
refugee settlement, war, human rights, geopolitics, hegemony,
power-structure and international organizations.
Specialties: Editing, Writing. Research. Analysis. Case Studies. Proposal Writing. Copywriting. Freelancing. Consultant.
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/arunbudhathokiauthor
Nepali Students’ Association for Canada (NSAC) Launches
KATHMANDU — A new organization has been launched to represent the interests of Nepali students in Canada. The Nepali Students’ Association for Canada (NSAC) was founded by Arun Budhathoki, a graduate of the University of New Brunswick.
The NSAC aims to provide a variety of services to its members, including networking opportunities, social events, academic support, career development, and advocacy. The organization also hopes to strengthen Nepal-Canada relations.
“We are excited to launch the NSAC and to provide a platform for Nepali students in Canada to connect with each other, to learn about resources, and to find support,” said Budhathoki. “We believe that the NSAC will be a valuable resource for Nepalese students as they pursue their academic and professional goals.”
The NSAC is open to all Nepali students in Canada, regardless of their university or college, and also open to those interested to study in Canada. To learn more about the NSAC or to join, please visit the Facebook page and group.
Benefits of Joining the NSAC
There are many benefits to joining the NSAC. Some of the benefits include:
- Networking opportunities: The NSAC hosts a variety of events and activities that allow members to network with other Nepali students. This can be a great way to make friends, learn about resources, and find support.
- Social events: The NSAC hosts a variety of social events throughout the year, such as potlucks, movie nights, and cultural events. This is a great way to socialize with other Nepalese students and learn about Nepali culture.
- Academic support: The NSAC offers a variety of academic support services, such as tutoring, study groups, and career counseling. This can be helpful for students who are struggling in their classes or who are looking for advice on their career goals.
- Career development: The NSAC offers a variety of career development services, such as job fairs, resume workshops, and interview preparation. This can be helpful for students who are looking for internships or jobs.
- Advocacy: The NSAC advocates for the rights of Nepali students in Canada. This includes working with the government to improve the immigration process and to provide more support for Nepali students.
If you are a Nepali student in Canada or interested to pursue further studies, I encourage you to join the NSAC. It is a valuable resource that can help you to succeed in your academic and professional goals.
| My concerns are NOT funny kid |
| David Amos | Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 6:46 PM | |
To: tisrael@cippic.ca Cc: pm@pm.gc.ca, Wayne.Lang@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, david.raymond.amos@gmail.com, motomaniac333@gmail.com | ||
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