On August 27, Premier Ford, alongside Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, and Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds, Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, announced plans to build a new Greater Ottawa Correctional Complex in Kemptville, and further invest in Ontario’s correctional system.  

The location for the facility will be on the “farm-side” lands by the Kemptville Campus which are approximately 182 acres in total. These lands have been long owned by the province.

I recognize that our community already has a number of questions about this announcement, including the process and timing, details about the facility itself and how community safety will be protected. Council and I have the same questions.  

Since I became aware of this decision days before the announcement this past Thursday, I began important conversations with MPP Steve Clark and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. We will continue to work as a close partner with them as this project moves forward.

My job, as your Mayor, alongside my Council colleagues, is to ensure North Grenville’s voice is heard, and that our community benefits to the greatest extent possible. This means maintaining and protecting everything that makes us proud to call North Grenville home. I will not waver from this commitment.

Large projects such as this must go through a long and thorough consultation process before they become a reality. This includes robust public engagement. Minister Clark has already committed to me that, this fall, stakeholder and community outreach will begin.

The province will demonstrate how the facility will be state-of-the-art and how community safety will be at the forefront of all decisions. There will be open houses and several opportunities for you to ask questions and learn more.  

We are only at the beginning. It will likely be approximately three years before a facility is established.

The correctional system has needed investment for a long time. The pandemic has amplified many of the challenges it faces. We know the Province has a strong mandate to improve corrections in Ontario.

For North Grenville, significant economic opportunities will emerge with such a large infrastructure project. A new facility will expand the economic diversity in our municipality. It will bring a significant number of new jobs, and help local businesses to grow.

A new correctional facility will also provide correctional staff with a safe and modern place to work. It will also offer improved programs for those who need it most, and important training opportunities for staff.

Of course, this is all very new for Council and our community. More details will come with the community engagement process this fall.  Our municipality will maintain a close connection with the province every step of the way.

In the meantime, if you have questions, please feel free to contact Minister Clark’s constituency office:

• 613-342-9522
• Local Toll-Free: 1-800-267-4408
• Email: info@steveclarkmpp.com

Thank you for being such a caring community.

Sincerely, 

Nancy Peckford
Mayor, North Grenville