The survival of an inmate at Sept-Îles Prison costs Quebec taxpayers nearly $1,900 a day, four times more than the average for all prison facilities in the province. According to experts, this is a mistake.
“These expenses are absurd,” says without hesitation the criminologist Philippe Bensimon, who has written several works about the prison world.
Expenses for each inmate at Sept-Îles Prison have increased by more than 50% over the past three years, according to Ministry of Public Security (MSP) data available to our investigative office.
The Sept-Îles detention center ARCHIVE PHOTO, AGENCE QMI
Already exorbitant at $1,244 per day in 2019-2020, they increased to $1,896 per day in 2022-2023, putting Sept-Îles well ahead of all other Quebec prisons. For comparison, the same inmate costs $579 per day at Leclerc Prison in Laval, which is among the second most expensive prisons per inmate. For the entire province, the average cost of an inmate per day is $496.
Average cost of an inmate per day in Sept-Îles
- 2022-2023: $1896
- 2021-2022: $1463
- 2020-2021: $1472
- 2019-2020: $1244
A half-empty prison
Remember that the inauguration of the Sept-Îles prison in 2017 was controversial when $91 million was poured into this hyper-modern facility, equipped with plasma televisions and stainless steel appliances.
To do their laundry, inmates have access to HD front washer dryers in each accommodation area. ARCHIVE PHOTO, QMI AGENCY
At Sept-Îles Prison, each accommodation area has a kitchenette with a dishwasher, microwave, toaster and kettle, which inmates share in small groups. ARCHIVE PHOTO, QMI AGENCY
The prison has 55 spaces but houses an average of just 26 inmates, ministry records show. Due to a severe shortage of correctional officers, the prison also had to close one of its wings last fall.
“We built a prison without planning the costs. “The government is wasting taxpayers’ money,” complains Nicolas Gagnon, director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Nicolas Gagnon, Quebec director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Photo from FCC website
“This establishment produces nothing and contributes nothing to society […] We could have simply sent these prisoners somewhere else,” adds expert Philippe Bensimon, who has studied more than 1,000 detained people.
Average cost of an inmate per day in Quebec
- 2022-2023: $496
- 2021-2022: $457
- 2020-2021: $493
- 2019-2020: $412
As an MSP, we justify the disproportionate costs, particularly in Sept-Îles, with the high rental costs. That rent of $718,000 per month – $8.6 million per year – is paid to the Société québécoise des Infrastructures (SQI), which also reports to the provincial government.
“The cost of renting the Sept-Îles detention center alone accounts for 60% of expenses,” says spokeswoman Louise Quintin, adding that the town’s low prison capacity increases the cost per year.
No other services
In addition to the cost of the North Shore prison, the overall increase in prison costs in recent years is also concerning. Spending was $607 million in 2022-2023, up 25% over three years.
“However, there are no longer any offers for social reintegration,” emphasizes prison lawyer Mélanie Martel.
Annual cost of Quebec prisons
- 2022-2023: $607.4 million
- 2021-2022: $518.2 million
- 2020-2021: $498.9 million
- 2019-2020: $486.9 million
Source: Ministry of Public Security
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