Harper government to close two federal prisons, including Kingston Penitentiary
Posted Apr 19, 2012 10:59:33 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The government is closing Kingston Penitentiary, the country’s oldest penal institution, as well as the Leclerc prison near Montreal as part of a cost-cutting effort.
The iconic Kingston prison, whose turreted limestone walls are a waterfront landmark, dates back to 1835.
It houses some of the country’s most high-risk convicts, including notorious killers Paul Bernardo and Russell Williams.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the prisons are outdated and their infrastructure is crumbling.
He says the closures will save $120 million a year as the inmates are transferred to more modern facilities.
Kingston Penitentiary holds maximum security convicts, while Leclerc is a medium-security prison.
