By Cathy Dobson, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
Rare applause and whistles of appreciation rose midday Monday outside the Sarnia Jail with official word that the facility will not close.
“Based on an internal evaluation of the ministry’s operational needs, as well as the conversation we had with the community, we have decided that the Sarnia Jail will remain open,” Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Madeleine Meilleur told a crowd of about 100.
Jail staff, local politicians, Sarnia police Chief Phil Nelson, about 15 local firefighters and Save the Jail committee supporters were among those gathered to hear the minister’s announcement.
Mayor Mike Bradley had suggested on Friday that Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government reversed a decision made in 2011 to close Sarnia Jail by 2014.
But it wasn’t until Monday when the minister flew into Sarnia that the news was confirmed and celebrations began.
Meilleur left the podium to give a warm hug to Dave McPhail, chairman of the Save the Jail committee.
“I would personally like to thank Dave McPhail and the Sarnia Save the Jail committee. Without your hard work, we would not be here today,” she said.
Jeff Plain, an advocate for aboriginals at Community Legal Assistance Sarnia, presented Meilleur with a braided piece of sweet grass from Walpole Island.
He said he thanked her on behalf of the native community, which would have experienced real hardship if Sarnia inmates were housed in Windsor and cut off from their elders and family.
“The staff are really, really happy about it,” said Dave Esser, union rep for the jail’s employees. “(This announcement) could have easily been an, oh well, we’re going to stay open for now. But there was really no qualification on this thing whatsoever.”
Meilleur, who was visited twice at Queen’s Park by Save the Jail proponents, said the correctional system in Ontario has changed since Dalton McGuinty’s government decided Sarnia Jail would close.
“Since the decision was made, growing capacity issues and the federal government’s so-called ‘tough on crime’ agenda have increased pressure on our correctional system,” she said. “At the same time, we have been listening to the concerns of the community. Premier Kathleen Wynne and I have both met with community leaders and heard them loud and clear.”
The 100 beds at Sarnia Jail will help southwestern Ontario’s correctional services deal with crowding issues, provide programs for inmates and a safer environment for staff and inmates, Meilleur said.
“I know the past couple of years have been an uncertain time for the employees of the Sarnia Jail and for the businesses and services in the community. I want to thank everyone involved for making your voices heard, and for your patience and understanding.”
Later, Meilleur told reporters that she couldn’t guarantee that Sarnia Jail won’t close in the future. Sarnia Jail is now one of 29 jails across the province in a review to “modernize” the correctional system, she said.
“I am not a person who makes a decision and never reviews it,” she said. “But this facility is close to the border and it’s important to have a jail close to the border.”
That was part of the argument made by the Save the Jail committee from the beginning, said McPhail.
He said he believes the government realized they made a mistake in 2011 and hadn’t considered Sarnia Jail is only 52 years old.
“I think someone misread the facts and then we came forward with information about the costs of transportation to Windsor (where Sarnia inmates were to be transferred),” McPhail said.
“This is a great win for Sarnia-Lambton. Really, every taxpayer in Ontario won today,” he said. “The millions of dollars that would have been spent on transportation would have taken money out of the system for education and health care.”
Frank Stancic, executive director of the John Howard Society in Sarnia, said the government’s reversal did not surprise him because Sarnia Jail is an important facility in a border city, but he wished it went a step farther.
“I was kind of hoping the minister would bring, in addition to this good news, some better news that there might be some dollars for some upgrading, some expansion because, as she said, there are pressures on the system across the province,” Stancic said.
Meilleur agreed Sarnia Jail needs some upgrades. Since announcing it would close, her ministry repeatedly said the jail was too small, poorly designed and showing its age.
“It’s a facility that needs work and I’ve asked staff to prepare a rehabilitation program for our 29 facilities and see what we need to do,” Meilleur said Monday.
About 15 Sarnia firefighters in bright yellow t-shirts attended the announcement and said they were there to show solidarity with the jail’s unionized workers.
The minister recognized Sarnia Fire Rescue Services and thanked its members for responding to a small fire at the jail the night before.
On Sunday night, five Sarnia Jail inmates were transferred to another facility after setting fire to some paper and causing what was described as minor damage to two units. There were no injuries.
Apart from Meilleur, the mayor was the only other speaker Monday.
He credited McPhail and the other Save the Jail volunteers and said the community benefits from the retention of 70 jobs at the jail.
There’s also been a “refreshing sea change” at Queen’s Park, Bradley said. “I include the premier in that.”
WHAT THEY SAID:
“When they looked at the data, reason prevailed. The decision to close was nonsense on stilts from the beginning.” Lawyer Andrew Bolter, Community Legal Assistance Sarnia.
“Everywhere you went, people said what a stupid decision to close Sarnia Jail. It’s been a really long haul. I want to thank the Save the Jail people, the police chief, the mayor and so many others who worked so hard.” Dave Esser, union rep for correctional workers.
“What’s gratifying to me is that this was true democracy at work. We made a presentation at Queen’s Park and they listened, they acted.” Dave McPhail, chairman of the Save the Jail committee.
“It’s paramount that we’ve kept (inmates) in their community where their supports are, their families are and their services are.” Frank Stancic, executive director John Howard Society.
“The Save the Jail committee had the facts all along. Taxiing inmates hundreds of kilometers back and forth to prisons around the province would cost millions of tax dollars per year and saddle our valuable police resources with chauffeur duties.” Bob Bailey, MPP Sarnia-Lambton.
“Keeping the Sarnia Jail open makes sense and will provide additional beds and much-needed space, creating a safer environment for our employees.” Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
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