Louis Sebert

Yes, the member is correct that access to the outdoor recreation has been restricted since the incident of our inmate escape in August of 2016. In the interim, the traditional liaison counsellor has been continuing programming in the indoor culture room and areas within the facility designated for this purpose.

As I previously mentioned in this House, there were some complications in the procurement process that required the department to look at alternatives. The problem was that the bids came in at a figure far in excess of what we were expecting, so I can't speak publicly about the security...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were a number of concerns raised in the letters which we received in October. They covered quite a range of topics, including programming available, access to outdoor recreation areas, use of space within the facility, access to a law library, cost of phone calls, and staffing issues.

I want to assure this House that these concerns have been taken seriously. Within each of our correctional facilities, there is a process in place for addressing inmate concerns when the management of the facility meets with the inmate advisory committee on a monthly basis...

Here are the Fort Smith residents who are with us today and who will be presented with the Governor General of Canada’s Corrections Exemplary Service Medal: Toko James MacDonald, John Barry Bernhardt, Warren Gillis, Stella Walterhouse, Andrea Steed, Doreen Schaefer. I thank you for being here and look forward to seeing you when you receive this honour this evening. Thank you.

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.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, any new major project would likely put a strain on the current system, whether that is a new mine or an old mine. I don't have any new details as to the amount of power that might be required. A major increase in the amount of power used in the system would likely require some changes in the manner in which we deliver power. It may involve the building of additional plants or even dams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, of course, we are looking at all these matters. As indicated in my response to one of the earlier questions, part of the concern of the board that is shared by the shareholder was that increase in rates be as moderate as possible. Had we kept the old board, there would have been a larger increase than the one that is anticipated. We are, however, looking at the whole corporate governance of the board, the future of the Power Corporation.