For immediate release WESTMORLAND, June 8, 2005 -- A $324,718 competitive contract has been awarded to Excalibur, of Kingston, Ontario, to provide educational services to the Westmorland Institution, in Westmorland, New Brunswick. Awarded on behalf of Correctional Service Canada, this contract will be completed in March 2006 with options to extend it for up to four additional one-year periods. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, MP for Beauséjour, on behalf of the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. "Congratulations to Excalibur on winning this competitive bid," said Mr. LeBlanc. "This contract will enable these inmates to gain useful and necessary skills sets. This is one of the many proactive initiatives the Government of Canada is continuously taking to ensure the successful re-integration of inmates into the community as well as the safety and security of these communities right across the country." Excalibur will provide adult basic education courses as well as vocational training to inmates at the Westmorland Institution. The adult basic education program will be offered to a total of 144 inmates to enable them to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma. Some of them will be offered regular basic literacy and arithmetic skills. The company will also offer training to 48 inmates within the vocational/custodial program component. For information on contracting opportunities with the Government of Canada, visit www.merx.com, Canada's official, public sector electronic tendering service. - 30 - For further information, media may contact: Renée David Press Secretary Office of Minister Brison (819) 997-5421 Pierre Téotonio Senior Media Relations Advisor, PWGSC (819) 956-2310 Jean-Guy Lirette Office of Dominic Leblanc (506) 533-5700 PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at www.pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/min/text/mediaroom-e.html
