The Executive Director of the John Howard Society says she was blindsided by revelations that the federal government has earmarked $150 million for a new correctional facility to replace HMP.

Cindy Murphy was responding to reports of a briefing note, obtained by CBC, that indicates that the province received $150 million in federal funds to replace HMP in the current fiscal year.

According to the public broadcaster, that follows an allNewfoundlandLabrador report earlier in the year that the federal government could provide $150 million toward the construction of a replacement for the aging Pen.

Last week the province announced that it was establishing mobile trailers at the Penitentiary site to provide programming to inmates.

The suggestion that the province has already received the funding to replace HMP came as news to Murphy who has plenty of questions.

“Is that part of the planning for the new prison, is that part of the infrastructure for the new build? Things have gone pretty silent around what’s happening,” says Murphy.