Brockville — 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. It was announced at a press conference on Monday, March 16, 2026 at the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre on the old Pshyc grounds in Elizabethtown-Kitley bordering the City of Brockville.
On hand for the announcement today was Premier Doug Ford, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, and Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Stephen Crawford along with MPP Steve Clark, Elizabethtown-Kitley Mayor Brant Burrow and City of Brockville Mayor, Matt Wren.
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.”
“Expanding the capacity of the Brockville Correctional Complex and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional Treatment Centre makes our community safer by keeping dangerous offenders off the street. As work continues at the site, I’m pleased our government is issuing a Request for Qualifications. Selecting the team to build this facility and replace the 184-year-old Brockville jail is an important step forward as we work to deliver the modern complex that correctional staff deserve,” said Steve Clark MPP Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
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 said it 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.
The Brockville Correctional Complex includes the construction of 270 new male beds in a new facility with classification levels that will include maximum, medium, minimum and specialized care.
The St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre includes the construction of 25 new female beds. The project will expand the existing Secure Treatment Unit (STU) facility. While the existing facility is a STU that treats men with behavioral health challenges, the expansion will exclusively house females in maximum-security. The expanded facility will be built at the same time as the new BCC and will be located next to the existing STU facility as its own separate structure. A bridge will be built to connect the new SLVCTC to the existing STU.
Both facilities will share administrative staff and correctional staff facilities, and recreational spaces. The project will also include:
- Reception and visitation
- Executive administration
- Admitting and discharge
- Health services and infirmary
- Risk Classified Inmate Housing Unit as well Specialized Care, Food & Laundry Services
- New public and staff entrances
- New parking for staff and visitors
They went on to say by increasing correctional capacity in Brockville, it will also support the hiring of more than 400 additional correctional staff, including correctional officers, nurses and support staff.
The Brockville Correctional Complex and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre expansion project will be approximately 322,000 square feet and is being delivered using a Design-Bid-Build model.
In partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, the province has launched a competitive process to find qualified construction contractors to deliver the project. Interested contractors can visit merx.com to download the RFQ and apply.
“We welcome the investment that the Ontario government is making in our community to build a modern correctional complex that will meet the needs of today and tomorrow. In addition to its core function, the facility will also have economic benefits beyond our own borders by providing good paying jobs that will pay into the regional economy. I am very pleased to see this long-dormant site being put to good use,” said Brant Burrow Mayor of Elizabethtown-Kitley.
“Once complete, these expansion projects will increase the capacity of the Brockville Correctional Complex and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre, advancing our government’s plan to deliver a stronger correctional system with modern facilities to keep our communities safe. Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are building and renewing Ontario’s critical infrastructure through a historic capital plan of more than $223 billion to support growing communities, keep workers on the job and protect Ontario,” said Todd McCarthy Acting Minister of Infrastructure.
For more information please visit: https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/what-we-do/projectssearch/brockville-correctional-complex-st-lawrence-valley-correctional-and-treatment-centre/
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