New Complex Will Add Significantly To The Province's Forensic Science    Capability    

TORONTO, Oct. 5 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government, in a major investment incommunity safety, will build a forensic services complex in the Greater Toronto Area to house the province's forensic sciences and coroner's services, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter announced today. 

   "Our government is on the side of Ontario families concerned about crimeand safety," said Kwinter. "The new forensic services complex willsignificantly increase Ontario's ability to meet the demands of modernforensic investigations and criminal prosecutions and to keep our communitiessafe."    The forensic services complex will bring together on one site twoessential forensic investigation agencies: the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Centre of Forensic Sciences.

The new complex will increase capacity,allowing for more than 2,500 autopsies and 10,000 forensic science cases peryear. Locating the two agencies on one site will make collaboration easier;and help the government realize efficiencies during construction and throughshared services once the complex is in operation.

   "Current facilities are more than three decades old," said Chief Coroner Dr. Barry McLellan. "Scientific methods have moved on over that time. The newcomplex will provide the infrastructure and capacity our coroners,pathologists and forensic sciences professionals need to keep pace withdemands of the justice sector."  

  The project begins with the release tomorrow of a request for proposalsfor a planning study. 

   "The forensic services complex will be delivered according to the principles of the government's Building a Better Tomorrow Framework for planning, financing and procuring public infrastructure," said Public Infrastructure Renewal Minister David Caplan.

"These principles ensure thatthe public interest comes first, our processes are fair, transparent andefficient, and appropriate public ownership and control is maintained."  

  The forensic services complex is proceeding under the ReNew Ontario infrastructure investment plan. The McGuinty government and its partners are investing more than $30 billion over five years to improve Ontario's infrastructure.    

Disponible en français   

                    www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca