It now appears the Walkerton and Owen Sound jails are closing October 31st.
Union officials say this is a victory of sorts because it extends the original date of August 31st and it also is well past the October provincial election.
President of Local 221 OPSEU representing the jail workers at Owen Sound, Paul Johnstone, says the October 31st date was recently negotiated and they feel it was a victory despite some reports saying the jails wouldn’t close until the end of the year.
Johnstone says the original closure date was set for August 31st so they’ve extended that to the end of October and it allows for the provincial election to take place before any steps towards closure are made.
Johnstone, who is also the NDP candidate for Bruce Grey Owen Sound , says they know the Liberals are going to close the jails.
He says the Progressive Conservatives would review the issue if elected.
However he points out the NDP have said they will keep the Owen Sound and Walkerton jails open should they form the next government.
Brockton Mayor Dave Inglis would love to see the facility remain open but failing that, he would like to see building turned into a rehabilitation centre for remand inmates and for those who really need help with counselling.
