Harper government to close Kingston Penitentiary, home to Williams and Bernardo
Posted Apr 19, 2012 02:09:14 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The government is closing Kingston Penitentiary, the country’s oldest penal institution as part of a cost-cutting effort.
The Kingston Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison, is home to some of Canada’s most notorious criminals, including notorious killers Paul Bernardo and Russell Williams. It opened in 1835 and is one of the oldest still in operation Canada. It can hold up to 420 prisoners and has 460 employees.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the prisons are outdated and their infrastructure is crumbling.
He said the closures will save $120-million a year as the inmates are transferred to more modern facilities.
The government is also closing Leclerc prison, a medium-security institution in Laval, Quebec.
