DRUG TREATMENT CENTRE PLAN CLOSER TO REALITY

Plan To Turn Burritts Rapids Jail Into Centre For Youth Gets Financial
Backing

Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli's proposal to put a substance abuse
treatment centre for youth at the old Burritts Rapid jail got a boost
yesterday.

It did so when officials from the Dave Smith and Ottawa Senators
foundations pledged to raise money to support the project.

The city has reached an agreement with the provincial government to
buy the facility, which shut down three years ago, and 800 hectares of
nearby forest land.

Under a proposal going to the city's economic affairs committee in the
coming weeks, the city would pay $1.3 million

for the jail, which used to house up to 400 prisoners, and the land.

The money would come from existing funds in the city's green space
acquisition budget.

The forest space would be added to the municipality's Marlborough
Forest project and bring that natural area to almost 2,000 hectares.

The two foundations said they would be raising money to help convert
existing buildings at the jail to house the treatment centre.

Ottawa officials are also seeking co-operation from provincial,
federal, and other municipal governments in eastern Ontario because
they would like to see the centre opened up to youths from around the
area.

At the moment, there is no youth substance abuse treatment centre in
eastern Ontario, and this gap has been identified as a priority by
public health and addiction treatment officials. The closest Ontario
centre of this kind is in Thunder Bay.

If approved, the centre could open in two years with between 100 and
200 beds for those 16 and younger.

The facility is located along the Rideau River, near Burritts Rapids
in rural Ottawa's extreme southwest corner.