BELLEVILLE - Infrastructure Ontario released a request for qualifications (RFQ) today to design, build, finance and maintain a new consolidated courthouse in Belleville, Ontario at Coleman and Bridge Streets, near City Hall.

The new Quinte Consolidated Courthouse will improve access to justice in the region by consolidating existing courthouse facilities and services into one new location.  Currently, the region's Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice operate from three locations in Belleville and one in Trenton.  The new courthouse will 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 early 2010, to design, build, finance and maintain the new facility. 

“The County of Hastings 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 our economy,” said Leona Dombrowsky, MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings.

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 www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts: 

Jennifer Sclisizzi 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-325-7409 

Brendan Crawley 
Ministry of the Attorney General  
Communications Branch 
416-326-2210