Mr. Chairman, this could be part of other departmental initiative as well. We are currently working with Health and Social Services. As the Member did touch on FASD and FAS, the clientele that we have and we do recognize that there are in a system in Fort Smith. There are certain programs for them as well. But with incarceration of certain individuals does cause costs to our department at the correctional level. One of the focuses will be possibly to divert the funding to the community programming. That is our goal. We continue to work with the judges, the NWT Supreme Court judges, to identify the importance of having community-based programming. Again, we have been successful in achieving that. We want to do more of that in the regions.
Mr. Chairman, the last issue I would like to talk about is community policing -- my favourite subject -- for Tsiigehtchic. I know this issue has been bounced around this House for a number of years. I would just like to get the Minister to give me an update on what is the status of community policing for Tsiigehtchic. There was an issue around housing in Fort McPherson getting an extra member. I would like to know. Can you give me an update on what is the status of that? When can we see police services in Tsiigehtchic by way of the Fort McPherson detachment?
Mr. Chairman, the policing services have been provided from out of Fort McPherson. I need to get more detailed information as to the specifics of where it is now. I will get that to the Member.
Mr. Chairman, this particular issue has been brought to my federal/provincial/territorial colleagues just last week. I did raise communities without detachments. We do have them in the Northwest Territories. Again, pressuring the federal government of the importance of it. We also talked about First Nations policing policy as well. It is all interrelated to the communities without detachments. We are doing what we can to provide policing services and will continue to do so. We will provide more detailed information to the Member. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Next on my list is Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a question with regards to facilities for women prisoners. Social Programs committee has been discussing with the Minister and the department for some time now the need to renovate, rebuild, build a new facility for women prisoners in Fort Smith. I would like to know from the Minister if he can give me an evaluation of the state of the women’s correctional facility in Fort Smith at this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lafferty.
Mr. Chairman, with the Fort Smith, we are in planning stages but we are in the process of developing a schematic design that will be available I believe in March. Those are just preliminary works that are in place. But the overall plan is to expedite this process, because we know the female offenders in the facility in Fort Smith is in, of course, poor condition. We have had some escapes in the past. We definitely want to prevent that from happening. That is where it is at, Mr. Chairman. It is in the planning stages. Mahsi.
Thanks to the Minister for that little summary. That was about what I had understood, that the facility is in extremely poor conditions and it really needs to be replaced yesterday, not a couple of years from now. I was somewhat surprised that there is no indication of any kind of money for the replacement of this facility, the women’s facility, in this particular budget. I appreciate that there is planning that’s ongoing at the moment, but when does the Minister expect that there will be some money in the capital plan to actually start the construction of a new women’s facility? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Ms. Watters.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The funding for construction of a new facility for female offenders is, as the Minister has outlined, in the planning stages. We received planning funding this year. The project is now red flagged for consideration in the 2012-13 capital budget. So we’re anticipating capital construction funding in 2012-13. There is a year that’s always left between planning and construction. Thank you.
Thank you for the information from the DM. Mr. Chair, I move we report progress.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress. On behalf of committee, I would like to thank Ms. Watters.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. A motion is on the floor. Do you have a seconder? The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Priorities and Planning committee at adjournment.
Orders of the day for Thursday, October 21, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
Motion 18-16(5), Extended Adjournment of the House to October 25, 2010
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project
Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits
Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits - What We Heard
Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northern Voices, Northern Waters: NWT Water Stewardship Strategy
Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012
Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future”
Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act
Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act
Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 21, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
