Jackson Lafferty
Statements in Debates
I believe that there are different parties involved. It is also the student’s responsibility to do their research on what they want to get into, the field of studies, and the requirements of that particular program, including the practicum and whether or not it can be delivered in the Northwest Territories. That is information that is available on the college website or the college application. We need to work with the students. We as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have staff that can provide some information, but it’s also the student’s responsibility to do that part too...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that we are closely looking at. We are currently in the final stages of having a review done on the community justice programming. This will fit well with what the Member is referring to. Definitely this is an area that we have been pushing and we will continue to do that. We feel that this is an important piece of work, that rehabilitation and reintegrating those individuals back to the community will be a success due to these programs that are being offered.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, definitely we’re continuing to work with various institutions that we have partnerships with down south. At the same time, the Grande Prairie Regional College is also interested in considering some modification. The modification will take some time but it is in the works. Those are areas that we continue to work on with the college.
We do provide, as I stated earlier in the House, the programs that are available to the inmates. The dollar figure depends on the institution that we have across the Northwest Territories. The most important thing is to have rehabilitation programming and to reintegrate the individuals back into the community. I think the important part is the Aftercare Program. We can do what we can within the system, within the institution, but once they leave, there’s another venue they need to access and that’s the Aftercare Program. As I stated, I work closely with the Minister of Health and Social...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am trying to find accurate information. I don’t have it at my fingertips right now but I will get back to the Member on that, the actual number that we have to date.
Mr. Speaker, I believe we have. Within our programming there’s been a review undertaken to have an overall look at the whole programming that we offer at corrections. There have been some changes reflected on that, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard from inmates, from the people in the public to say these are particular programs that should be offered, whether it be the on-the-land program, that we’ve heard over and over. Definitely, this is an area that we continue to monitor, Mr. Speaker. If there are going to be changes required, then we’ll make those changes. But again, it is federal legislation...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Once inmates are in the institution there are various programs that are offered to them, whether it be treatment healing programs, substance abuse, sexual offender relapse, family violence, men who abuse program. There are all these different programs. There is also specific to healing. Those are the areas that the rehabilitation of those inmates that our staff is focused on. But there are certain circumstances where individuals who if they are very high risk then take different programs as well.
Mr. Speaker, we can’t control those individuals that are outside the...
I will work with the DEA on having those Wrigley students attend Simpson with regard to the residence. Also the independent evaluation would have to come from the DEA if they wish to do that.
We as a department will work closely with them. Maybe this is a concern that we can bring forward to the DEA. The Member raised that issue. It’s a concern to the Member and to the community. We’ll follow through with that.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously there’s a reason why these students are not in a residence and we need to get that confirmation from the DEA or DEC, probably the DEA. I will be following up on this particular matter with the DEA. There are various options. The students and the parents in the community can work with the DEA, if they can meet with the local DEA and erase those concerns. We will do our part as well.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Law Foundation 28th Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2010.