Latest on P3 - Ontario takes back operation of private jail

NEWS RELEASES

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNION

********************** Central North Correctional Centre transferring to public-sector operation Private jail operation contract not renewed

QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 27 - Ontario will transfer the operation of the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene to the public sector, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter announced today. "After five years, there has been no appreciable benefit from the private operation of the Central North Correctional Centre," said Kwinter. "We carefully studied its overall performance compared with the publicly operated Central East Correctional Centre in Kawartha Lakes, and concluded the CECC performed better in key areas such as security, health care and reducing re-offending rates. As a result, the government will allow the contract with the private operator to expire." Management and Training Corp. Canada (MTCC) was chosen to operate the Central North Correctional Centre in May 2001 as part of a five-year pilot project.

During that period, the Central East Correctional Centre - which is identical in design - opened as a publicly operated facility.

The pilot project was to determine if there was any advantage to private operations of correctional services in Ontario. "We acknowledge that MTCC was in material compliance with the contract," said Kwinter, "but the evidence clearly indicates that the public facility produced better results in key performance areas." The contract with MTCC ends on November 10, 2006.

Over the next six months, the ministry will work with its partners, including MTCC and bargaining agents, to ensure a safe and smooth transition of CNCC's operations to the Ontario public service.

********************* Private jail to be repatriated into public hands: Proof that public services are better publicly-run: OPSEU

TORONTO, April 27 - The Ontario government did the right thing by reversing a Mike Harris decision to privatize adult correctional facilities, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union said today. The government announced that the contract with a Utah-based company to operate the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, the first private adult jail in Canada, would not be renewed. "The public service has outstripped the private sector when it comes to delivering public services. This is a very important lesson for this government," said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. Casselman challenged the government to extend this lesson to all other privatized services, in particular facilities for young offenders, road maintenance, water treatment and health care. The Mike Harris government announced in May, 2001, that Management & Training Corporation would have a five-year pilot project to operate the 1,184-bed correctional centre.

It would be compared to the operation of the new Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, which is publicly-run.

According to the study, the publicly-run CECC performed better in key areas such as security, health care and reducing re-offending rates. OPSEU represents employees of both facilities.

OPSEU and its allies in the community have been campaigning for years to have the jail returned to the Ontario Public Service. Casselman said the union would be working closely with the government to make sure that all employees and services are returned to the public service where they belong. "Our members are dedicated to public services, not making profits for private companies," she said. *********************