Federal dollars won't go into the construction of a new prison in this province, despite Ottawa doubling its budget for prison construction and maintenance this year and plans to triple it by next.

Chris McCluskey, Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan's spokesman, says this province won't be getting a chunk of that money to build a new federal/provincial prison here.

"There are no plans to build any more prisons for the foreseeable future," McCluskey told The Telegram late Friday. "Speaking in reference to Her Majesty's prison in St. John's, the minister has said before, as it is a provincial facility, the prison and its future are entirely the responsibility of the province."

But this province's Justice Minister Felix Collins said Friday he is looking forward to speaking with his federal counterpart about what the federal government's plans will mean for the prison system here, and in particular, Her Majesty's Penitentiary.

"It's going to put more pressure on the facilities and, hopefully, we'll qualify for some of that money. Now, basically, we're still in the same position we've been in. We need a new penitentiary," Collins said.

A national news story reported Ottawa has doubled its prison construction and maintenance budget from $88.5 million in 2006-07 to $195.1 million this year, and projects another increase to $211.6 million in fiscal year 2010-11.

According to the Globe and Mail story, the Conservative minority government needs to expand its prisons to house an expected increase in prisoners after tougher laws and sentences take effect across the country.

The Conservatives have introduced proposals to end the use of conditional sentences - known as house arrest - and the two-for-one rule, allowing a judge to hand out sentences that give credit for time served while awaiting trial.

Van Loan told the Globe and Mail that renovations and extensions will temporarily make space for those prisoners, while decisions on building new regional prisons will be put off for another two to three years.

"Basically, by introducing this legislation the government is focused on measures that are putting the rights of victims over serious criminals. I suppose what the Liberals are arguing is criminals being released back into our communities before their sentences have been completed, which we think is clearly unacceptable," McCluskey said, adding he's "unapologetic about that."

"Should offenders be allowed back into the communities before being rehabilitated?"

When asked exactly how prisoners can be rehabilitated when a facility like HMP has so few programs and poor conditions, McCluskey said, "We should be improving those systems, otherwise when they complete their sentences they're not rehabilitated and they're allowed back into the communities without rehabilitation and I think that just demonstrates the argument that those programs should be improved."

The Globe and Mail article states there are about 33,000 people in jails in Canada, with most being the responsibility of the provinces or territories while either awaiting trial or sentencing or serving shorter provincial sentences.

Today in this province, there are 189 prisoners at HMP - 19 of whom are federal prisoners. In all, there are 49 federal prisoners serving sentences in this province's prisons.

Late Friday a spokesman for the provincial Justice Department was quick to point out there are federal inmates in the province's justice system who are receiving Correctional Services Canada programming here.

The federal government has a responsibility here, he said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, this province's federal cabinet representative, was in St. John's Friday to make several funding announcements. When questioned about the prison, he said this province isn't alone in needing a new facility, adding that there is a great need for corrections infrastructure around the country.

He suggested Collins should meet with Van Loan to talk about the issue and that he would help facilitate those talks.

Collins said he would be more than willing to meet with both Van Loan and MacKay.

amorrissey@thetelegram.com