Ontario Takes Next Step to Build New Jail in Brockville

As part of its work to keep dangerous offenders behind bars by building and expanding jails and correctional facilities, the Ontario government is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to build the new Brockville Correctional Complex and expand the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre. The project will add 295 new correctional beds in Eastern Ontario and is part of the government’s plan to add 1,436 new correctional beds across the province by 2032.

“Our government is cracking down on criminals by building jails and strengthening the bail system to keep violent offenders where they belong: behind bars,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The Brockville expansion is part of our plan to add over 1,400 beds in correctional facilities across the province and ensure lack of space is never an excuse to grant offenders early release.”

Last fall, the Ontario government introduced the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2025, to hold offenders accountable by making bail more stringent and consequential for people accused of serious crimes. As part of a comprehensive bail reform strategy, Ontario is expanding specialized bail prosecution teams, made up of dedicated Crown prosecutors who partner with provincial and local police to keep serious offenders behind bars.

“When violent and repeat offenders break the law, Ontarians expect them to be held accountable,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “That’s why our government is strengthening bail laws and making generational investments to expand correctional capacity across Ontario, so that we always have room to keep offenders behind bars and off our streets.”

The Ontario government is making historic investments to ensure dangerous criminals are never released due to a lack of space in adult correctional institutions. The building of the new Brockville Correctional Complex and expansion of the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre is part of a broader plan to strengthen Ontario’s correctional system with new beds, facility expansions and modernization projects, including:

• 345 new beds at the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex
• 320 new beds at the Toronto South Detention Centre
• 150 new beds between three modular expansions in Niagara, Milton and Sudbury
• 91 new beds at the Quinte Detention Centre
• 235 new beds at the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex.

In the coming months, the government will unveil additional expansions, totalling hundreds of new beds, to further increase capacity across the province.

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