$200M replacement pledged for Her Majesty's Penitentiary, says justice minister

A new jail was promised Wednesday to replace the aging Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, after decades of political promises and complaints about the Victorian-era correctional facility. 

The new facility — with a price tag of $200 million — is set to be built in White Hills, in the east end of St. John's, and have the capacity to house twice as many inmates as HMP. 

"This will be done," said Justice Minister Andrew Parsons, who made the announcement less than a week before the next Newfoundland and Labrador budget, and ahead of a provincial election call. 

"A new correctional facility is long overdue, and I am delighted that our government has been able to make this a reality. This new facility will provide a space for the rehabilitation of inmates and a safer work environment for staff," said Parsons.

He revealed details about the plan Wednesday afternoon at the Quidi Vidi Lake Boathouse, just a stone's throw from HMP, alongside Transportation Minister Steve Crocker.

Crocker said the goal is to start construction in 2022. Goverment has allocated $600,000 out of the 2019 budget — which will be tabled next Tuesday in the House of Assembly — for project planning. 

Just two months ago, Parsons said, "Replacing HMP is my No. 1 infrastructure priority and it has been for years," while government acknowledged that a mix of provincial and federal land was available for a new penitentiary. 

Public-private partnership

Crocker said the new correctional facility will be a public-private partnership, or 3P. 

In August, government hired EY (formerly called Ernst and Young) to conduct a "value-for-money analysis" to determine the best way to replace the facility. 

Ultimately the firm recommended that the government use the "design, build, finance and maintain" approach for the project.

Crocker said the next step will include issuing a request for proposals this summer for technical and fairness advisors.

Next year, a separate request for qualifications will be issued to help compile a shortlist of business interested in the design-build-finance-mantain model for the project. 

Inmate deaths cast harsh spotlight

Pressure for a new jail began to ramp up again last year, after the deaths of Doug Neary, Skye Martin, Samantha Piercey and Christopher Sutton, between Aug. 31, 2017, and June 30, 2018. All four died alone in their cells at HMP and the Women's Correctional Centre in Clarenville. 

The government tasked retired Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Supt. Marlene Jesso with taking on an independent review of their deaths in the provincial institutions. 

In one section, the report painted a picture of a decrepit and ancient men's jail where inmates are "triple-bunked" in rooms that are meant to handle two people, or contained to makeshift cells in the penitentiary gymnasium.

According to the report, it's a place where mental health and addictions issues are commonplace, and drugs cause "chaos" when they get inside the facility.

Cautious optimism from groups

NAPE leader Jerry Earle has been calling for a new prison through his term as president of the union representing correctional officers.

• An election is coming: Keep up to date with our coverage

On Wednesday, he told reporters he was hopeful, but not fully confident in the announcement.

"It's like any infrastructure announcement," he said. "You can't break ground tomorrow and start building the next day. There's a process you have to go through. Obviously we'll hold this government or any future government's feet to the fire."

Guards sometimes have to pull 24-hour shifts at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, and are forced to work in the substandard conditions the building provides.

Earle said the union had concerns about public-private ventures, so it built protections into the last collective agreement to guarantee new facilities would use public union employees.

Cindy Murphy, executive director of the local John Howard Society, was also on hand for the announcement. Her group works closely with inmates, helping them transition back into the community and advocating for their rights.

"We're absolutely thrilled, we've been calling for this for so many years, I can't even remember. The needs are so great," she said.

When asked about the timing of the announcement, so close to an election, Murphy admitted it's a bit concerning.

"We'll have to wait and see, but certainly we're optimistic."

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador