Concerned residents opposing proposed jail in Kemptville
Posted Apr 18, 2022 07:48:00 PM.
A group of concerned citizens are opposing a proposal to build a 235-bed jail in Kemptville, which would aim to address overcrowding at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.
Victor Lachance of the Coalition Against the Proposed Prison (CAPP) says there was no consultation regarding the proposal with residents or the municipal council.
He adds one of the main concerns surrounding the proposal is the call to build the new facility on heritage farm land.
“It runs completely against the municipality's vision that they had been developing, and are still developing,” Lachance told the Sam Laprade Show on Monday, April 18.
The coalition feels Kemptville lacks the necessary infrastructure to accommodate a jail, and is also worried the new facility would not bring any local economic benefits.
“Even though the government says so, or did say so, they now acknowledge there will be very little in the way of jobs or any economic benefit to the municipality,” Lachance explained.
He clarifies staff for the new facility would be supplied from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre or other nearby facilities, while other work such as construction or catering would be centralized through larger companies.
“The only thing the province acknowledged is it might help contacts for local snow removal and grass cutting,” the coalition member said.
Lachance also feels the proposed jail would impact the future of Kemptville if the plan moves forward.
“It's right next door to a high school [and] to a day care,” he explained. “It's going to affect how people think and want to come and live here and so on. There's some people here who've said they're simply going to move because of it.”
Lachance feels the plan for the new facility should be placed on hold until proper consultation can be completed.
Listen to the full interview with Victor Lachance on the Sam Laprade Show below:
