Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Justice some questions on these inmate concerns and also correctional concerns for the facility. On October 12th, the Minister sent the honourable Members of this House an e-mail that indicated the inmate concerns were inaccurate. A week later, the deputy minister of the Department of Justice went into the press and confirmed that some of these concerns were, in fact, accurate. I want to ask the Minister about GED Program. He has both told us that the Adult Education Program is present and inmates can access it. His department has...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has recently come to light through an unprecedented letter-writing campaign by the inmates of the North Slave Correctional Complex that things are very wrong with our correctional system. A number of my honourable colleagues have spoken about this already today, and I think it is important we shed light on this because it is an area of public interest. The foundation of our justice system has always been based on rehabilitation and giving Northerners a second chance after they take responsibility for their actions. However, inmates are now telling us it...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move the consideration of Tabled Document 1-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 1-18(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On this specific bridge project, I know that this is an area of interest for a number of businesses, northern-owned and operated businesses in my riding. I'm interested to know if this future project will have opportunities for local procurement of northern businesses before I place my confidence and my vote in this appropriation, that that is something that is possible for the future bridge project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, we have the best public servants in the world and the best correctional officers in the world. They have great relationships with the inmates. It is when the situation goes wrong that you need to prepare for contingencies. I will leave that with the Minister and ask my final question: I have heard reports that officers are being sent home on the basis of the tension level of the building.

Essentially, managers are being told to eyeball the building and judge whether or not it is a tense night or tense evening or tense day and sending people home early to cut back...

I agree with the Minister. We have the best public servants in Canada, and certainly, they are up to the task. I just think it is unfortunate that this Minister is asking one individual to take so much on. I will take his commitment. There are a few other things I would like him to look into. Apparently at the facility itself, when recreation time is given, they will take one of the officers off the job to go and deal with direct duties, leaving one officer behind to handle 30-plus inmates. Is the Minister aware of issues like that that may be compromising the safety of officers who are doing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I have heard through sources is that is not, in fact, true, that no additional training has been offered and, in fact, that the training manager position that was created to assist in the Auditor General's recommendations that increased training be offered to the correctional service has been cut, as well. I would like to ask the Minister: how many training officers are currently in the correctional service and what training programs are they offering to our correctional officers? Thank you.

I would like to thank the Minister for setting the record straight. It can be very confusing when we have two different narratives emerging out there when we are trying to help people with their issues. Mr. Speaker, the Minister also said no programs or staff positions have been cut in his e-mail, yet we have heard that recreation positions have been cut and that recreation is not currently being offered. Can the Minister set the record straight on that? Have there been cuts to recreation programs and positions in the Department of Justice?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize my friend Corporal April Bell of the RCMP. Thank you for your service, Corporal. Also my constituent Deneze Nakehk'o, who has done great work with Dene Nahjo. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.