Posted by Ian: Soil testing began late last month on the south side of the courthouse property and today (March 5) the next step began in the long process to undertake a new consolidated court facility for St. Thomas and Elgin. Here is the announcement …

ST. THOMAS, ON, March 5 /CNW/ – Infrastructure Ontario released a request for qualifications (RFQ) today to design, build, finance and maintain a new consolidated courthouse in St. Thomas. The new courthouse will be constructed on Wellington Street on the site of the historic Elgin County Courthouse, which will be incorporated into the new courthouse design.

Currently, the region’s Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice operate from two separate locations in St. Thomas. The new St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse will:

– improve access to justice in the region by consolidating existing
courthouse facilities and services into one new location;
– have more courtrooms, better accessibility and security, and improved
health and safety standards.

The RFQ is the first step in the process to select a team to design, build, finance and maintain the new facility.

RFQ submissions will be reviewed to pre-qualify project teams with the design, construction and facilities management experience, the qualified personnel and the financial strength to deliver a project of this size and complexity. Pre-qualified teams will then be invited to respond to a request for proposals (RFP), expected to be released in mid-2010, to design, build, finance and maintain the new facility.

“The County of Elgin will have greater access to justice through a new courthouse designed with Ontarians in mind – with secure, modern and accessible justice services that maximize the use of public funds,” said Attorney General Chris Bentley.

“This project is important not only because it will provide us with a new consolidated courthouse, but because it will create jobs and boost the local economy,” said Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.

Infrastructure Ontario will work with the Ministry of the Attorney General to develop the new courthouse. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province’s larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects – ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Visit http://www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

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For further information: Brendan Crawley, Communications Branch, Ministry of the Attorney General, (416) 326-2210; Tom Boreskie, Infrastructure Ontario, (416) 327-5246