Debates of May 27, 2004 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some more questions, in terms of the staff morale at YCC, for the Minister of Justice. This goes back to a few months ago when I asked similar questions about staff morale. Maybe he can help me out. I wonder why it is aboriginal employees in particular at YCC are being overlooked for advancement. Some of these aboriginal employees at YCC have over 15 years of experience and they are continually being denied advancement. I just wonder if he has a comment on that.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Mr. Speaker, without having some names to address, it’s a difficult one to have some comments on. I guess I should point out though that the Member makes it sound like there are no aboriginal employees in corrections. In fact, our department is ranked third in government, in the last report on affirmative action, at 34.2 percent of its employees being aboriginal. Corrections services, since that time, has increased the number of aboriginal managers by 35 percent. So of the current 46 manager and supervisor positions, 57 percent are staffed by aboriginal persons and an additional 21 percent are staffed by northern, non-aboriginal people. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult to say that we are ignoring aboriginal people. I think the department, particularly corrections, has a very good record at ensuring that aboriginal candidates can advance.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s fine and good to say that the department has a good track record in terms of aboriginal employees, but given the fact that the YCC has an inmate population of about 90 percent aboriginal -- and that’s unfortunate in and of itself, Mr. Speaker -- it would make sense that we try to advance aboriginal employees into management positions. How many aboriginal employees are currently in permanent supervisory roles at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre? Thank you.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Mr. Speaker, that level of detail I don’t have in terms of the staff complement of each facility, but I am sure the Member is aware of the corrections entry level training program which is in place at the facility and the practice has been to help people advance. There are other initiatives. We are, for instance, even in other facilities, working to provide mentorship and training for candidates to make sure they are prepared to become wardens. It’s not something new to the department or that facility. There is, in fact, a considerable amount of work that goes into providing assistance and training so that candidates can advance. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There seems to be a tactic employed by management at the centre. That tactic is to put a person in acting capacity until they have enough experience to compete for the position. This completely shuts out a fair and competitive job competition because management has hand-picked the candidate already. Is the Minister aware of this tactic being employed at YCC and does it concern him? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Mr. Speaker, in fact, it’s not a tactic to stop people from advancing, it’s a tactic to ensure that people can advance. Rather than filling those positions with long-term employees, we have two positions that have been supervisory positions that have been used to rotate a number of people through so they are prepared to apply for supervisory jobs when they come open. So it’s an effort to provide some experience while people can have an active position to improve their skills.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering when the last operational review was done at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. Given the trouble with the health services unit and indications of many other concerns and issues with the centre, I wonder if the Minister will commit to a full operational review of this facility. Thank you.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 154-15(3): Staff Morale Concerns At Yellowknife Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I won’t. I am satisfied that other than the usual problems you can expect when one facility shuts down and people are moved into a new facility, that there is nothing out of line there. The Member talks continually about morale problems, but the turnover at YCC has been less in the last fiscal year than the government-wide average is. So that doesn’t point to an issue of there being a widespread morale problem. So I don’t see the need for it right now. There were some concerns that the Member brought to the department about the operations of the health services, and that is been investigated. The department is reviewing the report and I am satisfied when we are able to implement the recommendations there, we will have dealt with all of the outstanding issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.