Louis Sebert

Within all of our facilities, we have a number of programming opportunities available to inmates. That's true both here and in the facilities outside Yellowknife. They are constantly looking at and evaluating programs and rolling out new ones. They have recently enhanced the programs to deal with those inmates that have short sentences. They are set up on a modular basis so they can be continued outside of the facility.

To give you some idea of some of the programs that we are offering, they are the following: high school exam preparation, trades exam preparation, assistance with pursuing and...

Mr. Speaker, our mandate has outlined direct actions to improve the lives of Northerners. For the Department of Justice, this includes a commitment to offer programming that meets the rehabilitative needs of inmates. An integral part of the work that the Department of Justice does requires that dedicated individuals in our corrections service constantly learn and adapt to the needs and best practices for helping inmates in our system. These professionals are tasked with providing the safe and secure custody of inmates and supporting their successful reintegration upon release.

This is not easy...

As I mentioned, there was a seamless delivery of the program as the new management took over, but that doesn't mean that we haven't been looking at improvements, so here are some of the improvements we are contemplating: we want to make the program more flexible so that men will be able to join the group as soon as they are ready and get back into the program should they drop out. The program is more connected to community programs, such as counselling, victim services; an enhanced screening and referral process ensures continuity of service for men who are not ready to join a group so they...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 894-18(2): North Slave Correctional Complex Security Concerns," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 924-18(2): Replacement Generators Contract and Costs," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 10-18(3): Emergency Protection Orders," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 12-18(3): North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 24-18(3): North Slave Correctional Complex Security Concerns." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the committee for its very bold initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly concur with many of the sentiments that I have heard today. I first met Doug many years ago, and he had longer and I had darker hair. His has not changed very much, but mine has. I first came to this Assembly in 2015 as part of the 2015 version of Ocean's Eleven, and we certainly needed an awful lot of guidance. Quite apart from the help that he has provided in this Assembly, he has been a great help to the Rules Committee. I was told when I was put in Rules Committee, "Well, they only meet a couple of times a year."

---Laughter

Well, it ended up being a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a government that is committed to openness and transparency, and, in my view, this goes exactly the opposite way. Why do these names have to be concealed from the public? These people are receiving benefits which they deserve -- which they deserve -- I have no problem with that, but this goes completely against the idea of openness and transparency. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I will bring these concerns to the board, and work with them on a continuing basis so that we can improve the Power Corporation. We do wish to keep rates low. The rates, of course, are set by the Public Utilities Board, an independent arm completely separate from government. Northland Utilities and the Power Corporation are different corporations with different concerns. All I can say is that we are working to keep rates as low as possible, and I am in constant contact with members of the board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The nature of this Crown corporation has changed over the years. Many of its activities, particularly in the area of energy conservation and the more experimental projects, are now shared with other departments. So a new board has been put in place and is looking at these types of issues of management as we move forward. It's a question of added value, Mr. Speaker. The old board was quite expensive. Keeping it in place would have led to a higher rate increase than the one that's anticipated. The new board of directors has a diverse education and background, and I am confident in them.

There are many options in these types of situations dealing with this mine or other possible mines, including liquefied natural gas. I am informed by my colleague from ITI that this department has, in fact, been in touch with TerraX.