The B.C. government says the North Fraser pretrial centre in Port Coquitlam is overcrowded and a new jail closer to courthouses in Metro Vancouver is needed. (CBC)

A new provincial jail could be built at one of four sites somewhere in East or South Vancouver, if the province selects a proposal by city council.

The city hasn't officially revealed yet its proposed sites for the new remand centre, but Coun. Suzanne Anton told CBC News they include industrial areas in False Creek Flats, Strathcona, Hastings North, or south of Marine Drive near the Fraser River.

Anton was the first Vancouver councillor to put forward the idea of bringing the pre-trial holding facility to Vancouver, citing its possible economic benefits.

"There are parcels throughout the city that might be suitable," she said Wednesday.

City staffers are working with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to find appropriate locations, but ultimately the decision will be up to the provincial government, she said.

Community leaders question proposals

The proposed sites do not all sit well with some community leaders.

Claudia Laroye, the executive director of the Marpole Business Improvement Association, said in addition to concerns about community impact, building a jail near the Fraser River would not be the best use of land.

"Look at the reasons that people may or may not want something in their area, and try to come to consensus, rather than imposing something on a community," —Patricia Barnes, Hastings North Business Improvement Association

"A remand centre is not water-oriented industrial usage. Any parcel that specifically is waterfront shouldn't necessarily be considered for having a remand centre on it," Laroye said.

Patricia Barnes, the executive director of the Hastings North Business Improvement Association, echoed her concerns, saying cutting into the already scarce industrial land base in Vancouver to provide up to eight hectares for the new jail would force businesses out.

"Instead of creating a livable, walkable, sustainable city where you can live close to where you work, you end up with people living in Vancouver and having to get in their cars to travel to the suburbs," said Barnes.

Both Barnes and Laroye were also concerned about whether proper community consultation processes would be followed before a location is chosen.

"Community development is consulting the community before making a decision, and bringing the community in for discussion, and talking about concerns, so that maybe you can … try to come to consensus, rather than imposing something on a community," said Barnes.

Delta and Surrey also propose sites

On Wednesday the mayors of the Metro Vancouver regional district said three municipalities in the region — Vancouver, Delta and Surrey — were all proposing possible locations to build the new Lower Mainland pre-trial centre.

The provincial government originally gave the region's mayors until September to pick from a list of 58 possible sites, after the province's preferred choice at an old detention centre in Burnaby threatened to become a hot button issue just before the May provincial election.

But none of the sites suggested by the mayors for the new jail was on the province's list. Surrey says it's open to expanding the existing pretrial centre in that city, while Delta has suggested putting the new remand centre on an old landfill in an industrial area near River Road.

The province has said it needs the new facility to hold prisoners awaiting trial and court hearings in Metro Vancouver, because existing facilities such as the North Fraser pre-trial centre are already operating at 200 per cent capacity.