Grand Lake residents celebrate Liberal decision to go ahead with jail

Residents of the Grand Lake area were celebrating Thursday after Premier Susan Holt announced that the construction of a costly and controversial new provincial jail in the community will go ahead after all.

Holt said last week her government was reviewing the $66-million project launched by the previous Progressive Conservative government.

But in a Facebook post at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, the premier said it would go ahead as planned.

"As part of our process, we reviewed all the information, background, and justification for this centre. I want to apologize to the community of Grand Lake for the fear and disruption we have caused," she said.

"We understand that correctional institutions across the province are at capacity, and overcrowding is causing safety concerns for everyone in those centres. We need to make sure people are safe."

Grand Lake residents who had planned to be at the legislature to pressure the Liberal government on the issue instead turned their visit into a victory tour.

"We needed this. This is the best Christmas present ever. And we thank the premier so much," said resident Carol Smith, who described a mood of elation in Grand Lake since word of the decision got out Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the Liberals suggested while still in opposition that the PC government should rethink the project, especially after learning the original cost estimate had more than doubled.

"I'd like to know if the minister's ready to reconsider the high cost," Liberal MLA Jacques LeBlanc said during a budget estimates committee session in April.

Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin told reporters that the distance between courthouses in the Fredericton area and the site was still "an issue" but "social acceptance" of the project in Grand Lake played a role in the decision to go ahead.

Holt suggested last week that she wanted to make sure the Grand Lake location was the best one.

Gauvin also said there hasn't been a day since he's been minister that existing jails in the province have been below 100 per cent capacity.

Mayor Kevin Nicklin, who had called the review "the straight weaponization of politics" because Grand Lake is represented by a PC MLA, Kris Austin, said Thursday his initial comments were "a knee-jerk reaction" to learning about the review from CBC News.

"It was kind of a shock to us that it was under review, but as she explained a lot of projects are under review when you change government, to make sure," he said.