Our city is getting a new, bigger jail.

Ontario Minister of Correctional Services Marie-France Lalonde announced the construction of two new facilities today: one in Thunder Bay, and one in Ottawa.

The new jail set to replace the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre will have 725 beds; an estimated increase of about 200.

Crowding issues at the OCDC have been drawing headlines for years.

The most recent incident involved showers being converted into cells.

There's no word yet from the province on how much the new jail will cost and when it will be constructed.

OPSEU President Smokey Thomas calls it "terrifically good news," though he hopes construction begins sooner rather than later.

"I hope they'll actually listen to front-line workers," he told CFRA's News and Views with Rob Snow. "The devil's in the details."

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson issued a statement, saying he's "pleased to see that the Province will be implementing a correctional services environment anchored in evidence-based decision-making, and will address how best to serve Ontario’s diverse inmate population."

He says the city is looking forward to working with the province on planning.