'When people commit crimes, they shouldn't be in this fancy-dancey jail,' Ontario premier says of new facility

Advocates, First Nation members want century-old jail closed, new facility set to open in 2027 Sarah Law · CBC News · Posted: Jun 18, 2026 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago Play article Estimated 5 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Doug Ford describes new Thunder Bay jail as ‘Four Seasons Hotel’ June 18|Duration During an unrelated press conference in Thunder Bay on Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked about calls to close the Thunder Bay Jail, as construction continues on the new $1.2 billion Thunder Bay Correctional Complex. Here’s some of what he said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing criticism for comparing the coming Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to a Four Seasons Hotel, less than a week after an inquest into the death of an inmate at the century-old Thunder Bay Jail. Kevin Mamakwa, a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and the nephew of Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, died in 2020. The recently completed inquest yielded 22 recommendations, all aimed at Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General. They include developing a plan to decommission the jail within five years of the opening of the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, which is under construction. Also referred to as the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, it's expected to be operational next year and is projected to house 387 men and 75 women. The Thunder Bay Correctional Complex under construction on Highway 61 is shown Thursday. The $1.2-billion facility is expected to be substantially completed 2027. (Marc Doucette/CBC) During an unrelated news conference in the northwestern Ontario city Tuesday, Ford was asked about recent calls from First Nation leaders to close the old jail, which MPP Mamakwa calls “a death trap.” Jury at Kevin Mamakwa inquest targets Thunder Bay Jail — called 'death trap' , an Ontario MPP “We just want to make sure we get some consultation, and we built a nice jail, very nice jail up here," Ford said. "Matter of fact, it looks like the Four Seasons Hotel. I'm not sold on that. When people commit crimes, they shouldn't be in this fancy-dancey jail. “But we're going to invest in it and let's we do with the old jail. Because we need more cells.” Comments expose 'the real Doug Ford,' MPP says Inquest jurors heard that 53 per cent of Thunder Bay Jail inmates identify as Indigenous, though others said the actual number could be upwards of 60 to 75 per cent.  The MPP took aim at Ford’s comments. “When I hear that, his thought is that we [Indigenous people] do not deserve anything good.