Debates of February 25, 2005 (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the placement of remand inmates in cells here in Yellowknife as opposed to Hay River, I would like to ask the Minister if the reason for that is because the Yellowknife correctional centre has empty beds and empty cells that need to be filled here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can accommodate the prisoners who would be housed in the remand facility in Hay River in the North Slave Correctional Centre. There is room for them. We don’t have to move them here. This is being undertaken as a cost-savings measure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, besides there being room, what else is better about putting the inmates in remand in Yellowknife rather than Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of better, I don’t know if it’s a question of it being a better setting. The issue is really one of having two facilities when we can accommodate the prisoners with one. That’s where the savings are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this change in operations results in a loss of 5.5 positions in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, with the recent review of the North Slave Correctional Centre, is it not true that there is a human resource plan to look at adding more positions for corrections officers in Yellowknife while taking 5.5 out of the South Slave? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say whether there’s going to be any positions added to the North Slave Correctional Centre or whether a request will come forward for additional staff. I haven’t seen the human resources plan. I know the department has been working on one with the assistance of an individual from British Columbia, but I haven’t yet been provided with that report if it has been finished. There have been some recommendations by corrections officers who have worked for the federal system out of Fenbrook Institution in Ontario. They did recommend that we increase some staffing in some areas, but we haven’t responded to that one. We have been waiting to see what the final human resources plan will look like. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that over building infrastructure in Yellowknife should not constitute losses in the regions and other communities.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minster’s commitment that he will not be taking 5.5 positions out of my community and adding corrections positions in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 482-15(3): Closure Of The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Remand Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that we’re not talking about adding. Even if we were talking about adding positions in the North Slave Correctional Centre, it is not in the remand part of the facility. I’m not aware that there have been any concerns about staffing in that area, and my understanding is that the vacancy in beds could be filled up without there having to be an increase in the numbers of staff. At this point, the two are not the same. If we’re talking about an increase in staff in the facility as it stands, it would be the same as an increase in the overall staffing at South Mackenzie Correctional Centre in the general correctional officer area. We’re not talking about changing staff in the remand section. Thank you.