The Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) says it will start temporarily utilizing the Regional Reception Centre, a federal prison located in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., to house a small number of high-risk immigration detainees.
According to CBSA, the agreement, which is currently being developed with Correctional Service Canada (CSC), follows legislative changes enacted in June and allows the temporary use – until June 2029 – of federal correctional facilities for the purpose of high-risk immigration detention.
In a press release, the CBSA said the location in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, located 40 km north of Montreal, would only be used to detain adult males who present a significant risk to public safety.
High-risk detainees are individuals who have prior convictions or outstanding charges for violent crimes such as assault with a weapon and attempted murder, among others.
This temporary immigration holding centre will be managed by the CBSA, independently of the CSC.
“The space being …