Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we heard in this House from the Minister of Justice that A New Day Program had 31 candidates, but when we met with the coordinators they informed us they had over 358 men and women take part in this program at the end of September. This is a huge difference in numbers. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain why there's a huge difference in these numbers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned yesterday, this program is being reviewed. There may have been people that were informed about the program, perhaps that's how they got to that 300 number. I do know, however, that only 31 entered the program and only 16 graduated. So there may have been other types of contacts, but as far as people actually in the program and completing the program, there were very few. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for his answer. There's a huge difference in numbers. So I'm going to ask this question. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that monthly reports were provided to the department. Mr. Speaker, were these reports given to the evaluators and are they part of the evaluation process, and are they using those numbers instead of the 31?
Mr. Speaker, of course I've not yet received the report, but I understand that the report is a comprehensive one. I'm sure they looked at a wide variety of information, I don't know exactly what information they looked at, but I'm almost certain they looked at a wide variety of information. I do not know if they specifically looked at the monthly reports, but their information provided to us, so far, is that there were only 31 clients and only 16 graduates.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree on the numbers here. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise the House if the pilot project did have an evaluation component in the contribution agreement and, if it did, was this evaluation component used in the evaluation process?
I'm not certain as to whether such an evaluation was in the initial terms of reference, but all pilot projects virtually, the very nature of a pilot project is that it is to be evaluated, and that type of evaluation is being done at this time.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has said this is a three-year project. However, there was a nine-month gap in the service between the Healing Drum and the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. It is my understanding that the program has been running only for 22 consecutive months at the Tree of Peace. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise this House, does the nine months with the other organization count as part of this three-year pilot project and evaluation process?
Mr. Speaker, this pilot program has been running since 2012, and we do appreciate there was a gap in the service provider. I'm sure the final report, which we are eagerly anticipating, will take that into account in their evaluation of the program.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
