Debates of October 24, 2018 (day 42)

Date
October
24
2018
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
42
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Question 438-18(3): Inmate Rehabilitation Services and Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my questions on inmate programming and services here, my first question is: does the North Slave Correctional Centre have a main core rehabilitation program designed with submodules? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, there are certain programs that I can speak of.

The Corrections Service has implemented a Substance Abuse Management, SAM, Program, Living Without Violence, and Respectful Relationships programming designed to help inmates with shorter sentences, as well as those serving their sentence in the community.

If I might provide more detail with respect to some of those programs, the SAM Program, Substance Abuse Management Program, was launched in 2016, and it has been delivered 36 times. The Violence Prevention and Living Without Violence Program was launched in 2017 and has been delivered 27 times. The Respectful Relationships program has been delivered 12 times.

These programs have been delivered in various facilities and hopefully will lead to rehabilitation of inmates so that they can rejoin society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks to the Minister for that information there. It is good to see that these are being offered, and I am hoping that the inmates are taking advantage of these opportunities.

My next question, Mr. Speaker: on the issue of trades or GED, can the Minister explain the success on how many inmates have enlisted in these two categories?

If I might mention some of the programs that we are offering to inmates at NSCC and FSCC: adult literacy and basic education; general education development, GED, I think it is known as; high school exam preparation; trades exam preparation; and life skills. So far, in fiscal 2018-2019, enrollments in education programs are: 38 inmates attending at the NSCC adult unit and 26 inmates attending at FSCC. I should mention also that the programs I mentioned earlier, such as SAM, are also offered in probation offices.

I recall here last year that there were some collaboration efforts on designing a joint program between A New Day and the centre. Can the Minister explain if that is under way?

Yes, I do remember that there was discussion about that so that prisoners or inmates would be aware of the A New Day Program. I believe some progress has been made, and perhaps I could look into that further and give the Member opposite a fuller answer.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.