Media Advisory - OPSEU president to tour Toronto South Detention Centre Dec. 21; news conference to follow

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union said today he will tour the problem-plagued Toronto South Detention Centre on Monday Dec. 21. Opened in January 2014 to replace the Don jail and Toronto West jail, the correctional facility in Etobicoke has been widely-criticized for its understaffing and design errors.

"When it opened the government crowed it would be a state-of-the-art detention centre," said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "In fact, it's proven quite the opposite. It's dangerously understaffed and some of the design and construction flaws jeopardize the health and safety of inmates and staff. "

Thomas noted the TSDC was designed by a public-private partnership (P3) and that Ontario taxpayers are on the hook for a 30-year, $1.1 billion contract to Integrated Team Solutions, Inc., to build and maintain the structure. The company, a consortium, includes EllisDon and Frengate Capital.

In the past week, the OPSEU president has toured two provincial jails, in Thunder Bay and in London, and on both occasions walked away decrying the overcrowding and understaffing he witnessed.

A news conference outside the main entrance to TSDC will immediately follow Monday's tour.

Details: OPSEU tour of TSDC
Date:	Monday Dec. 21
Time:	9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (est.) News conference at main entrance to follow
Location:	Toronto South Detention Centre, 160 Horner Avenue, Etobicoke

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Greg Hamara, OPSEU Communications, Tel: [phone]