A decision by the Correctional Service of Canada to abandon a potential new location on Somerset Street West has brought the entire relocation process under review, says Christa McGregor, a spokesperson for the CSC.
The vetoed property, located at 1010 Somerset St. W., came under fire from members of the community because of the proximity of the proposed location to Devonshire Public School and the Plant Recreation Centre on Preston Street.
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan has been credited with influencing the decision.
The CSC withdrew the site from consideration shortly after Van Loan publicly questioned the Somerset Street West location. The CSC then cancelled a second town hall meeting to discuss the other proposed relocation site – at 831 Industrial Ave., near St. Laurent Blvd. – just hours before that meeting was scheduled to take place.
While it is still unclear whether this second location is still being considered, McGregor says the CSC remains committed to vacating their current location on Elgin Street once the lease expires in September.
The parole office supervises about 200 parolees in Ottawa and the surrounding area. About 75 of those live in the Centretown area, and 40 live in halfway houses close to the Somerset Street West address, a correctional service spokesperson said Monday night.