Debates of February 1, 2006 (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the honourable Minister Brendan Bell in regards to the correction services and specifically the wilderness camps that we talked about in previous sessions. I want to ask the Minister, will he inform the House in terms of this progress in terms of establishing wilderness camps in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the House knows, wilderness camp programs are an important part of our corrections programming. Over the last number of years, I think we had a number of attempts to get the program up and running and make sure that it is well utilized. We have had some success. Kozo Lake is open right now with eight inmates, I understand, as of mid-January. That is pretty much full capacity for that. We really don’t have any other adult facilities operational at this time in the territory. That is a concern for me. I think part of the problem has been that the model we have been using has been overly complex and complicated, so we have had difficulty finding potential operators and also eligible inmates. I have proposed to the committee to undertake a pilot project and look at a new model that is much simpler and seeks to get interested elders out on the land for periods of time with eligible inmates. We are going to try a pilot both in the Sahtu and the Tlicho regions. We are working with the two members in those regions to make sure that happens and make sure we find potential operators who would be interested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to look at new models within the Northwest Territories specifically now a focus on the Sahtu region and also the other regions that have asked for it. In the Sahtu, I know there are a lot of concerns in regards to the complexity. I wanted to ask the Minister if he could provide some updates to me in terms of how that progression is going on. I think we have identified one camp person that may be considered for this new model. Would the Minister provide me with some update as to that progress within the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, indeed. We are, at the Member’s suggestion, working with an elder from Fort Good Hope, Charlie Tobac. We are having preliminary discussions with him. I have had staff go up to visit with Mr. Tobac at his home to discuss the model. As I have said, we are trying to be as flexible as possible and, if there have been unnecessary complications in the past, reduce those hurdles. I think that has been part of the problem. Typically, we would issue an RFP and see very little interest. We were expecting elders to provide programming and counselling on the land, be able to also operate a business at the same time, invoice the department to ensure they were paid, and have their own equipment and provisions and own a camp, essentially. I think this is probably unreasonable to expect that we would have a high degree of success with this type of model. We are working with Mr. Tobac to ensure we understand how we could roll out a successful model and make sure it is as smooth and easy as possible to get inmates on the land working with Mr. Tobac. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to Mr. Tobac or people in the Sahtu that there can be, and will be, hopefully, within the time constraints, the willingness of all parties involved that we could see adult inmates from the correction services moved into a wilderness camp in the Sahtu that is going to be redesigned by the elders and the Sahtu people along with the officials from the Department of Justice, that we would see something within this fiscal year that we would see a new model implemented in the correction services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can make that commitment. We are in the process of purchasing the equipment that will be necessary. I want to reinforce that, in some of our past efforts, the camps have become quite sophisticated. Cabins on the land are quite the facilities, actually. I want to make the point that this will not be as ambitious in that regard. We think we need a much simpler process. This is about going out on the land and making reparation for the people. We think that, in terms of programming, there could be a number of things undertaken, but certainly providing meat for our community is a worthy endeavour. We want to pursue a number of those opportunities and are looking for a model that can fulfill that. But we will roll it out as quickly as we possibly can. We are in discussions with Mr. Tobac and look forward to concluding those. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a thank you to the Minister in terms of taking this initiative to look at new initiatives developed by the people in the Sahtu region and the Northwest Territories in terms of implementing this type of program in our own communities and regions for our own people. I want to ask the Minister, of all the issues that we have to look at with this new model, would he look at taking some people from my region to look at other models that maybe have similar programs in southern Canada in terms of getting some feedback on some of the other types of wilderness camps that we could develop in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 307-15(4): Wilderness Camp Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, as a department, looked at other jurisdictions that might be able to offer some advice and some support in this area. What we found is that really there aren’t other jurisdictions doing this type of wilderness programming on the land. We have been pioneers in this area. I think the most effective approach for us here is to work with the elders in the region. That is, in fact, why we have undertaken this program. We heard from elders in the region that they were very supportive of on-the-land programming, and yet, when we tried to roll out programs, there wasn’t the uptake and we couldn’t find operators. So we have gone back to them and asked them how we could make this more successful. That is why we are working with Charlie Tobac. That is why we think it is going to work this time. I want to indicate that we are absolutely committed to seeing this through and making it work. I would propose that after we have had some time to try this and we have seen it up and running, we then evaluate the pilot and have a discussion with the elders who have been involved; especially Mr. Tobac. At that point, we would be in a better position to assess it and talk about other options and models that might be feasible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.