Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a letter that was addressed to MLA David Ramsay on the 17th of February from Minister Lafferty in terms of programming for the offenders correctional institutions. In the News/North, a judge noted the need to address the root causes of the criminal activities and also noted in the letter here that the Minister has said that 90 percent of inmates have issues related to the use of alcohol, for the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Is the Minister’s department looking at some kind of a treatment program at our correctional institutes to address the 90 percent of inmates who are there with this issue?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are fully aware of the statement that was made by Judge Vertes. It is the root cause of issues that we are dealing with. It is very challenging on a day-to-day basis. As Vertes indicated, it has to come from the grassroots people, the politicians and also the public. It is not just us sitting here making decisions; it has to be the general public as well that we need to work together.
We have to come up with solutions. We have already developed plans on our initiative through the Justice department. We deliver various aspects of program delivery at the corrections. We continue to enhance those programming. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, 90 percent of the inmates are in our institution because of the use of alcohol and drugs. It does not make sense for us leaders around here, 90 percent of the funding that the program should say that we need an alcohol and drug program at the North Slave or one of the other institutions to look at this issue here, the root cause. Does it not make logical reasoning to put this? Again, would the Minister look at, consider it, having a drug and alcohol treatment program? You have a captive audience already there. Let them look at these issues that brought them into the institution. Would the Minister look at that?
Mr. Speaker, we do have a treatment centre in Hay River. I think we need to continue what we have within our corrections. We, as the Member indicated, have 90 percent population whether it be Aboriginal from the communities. Those are the individuals that we can work with. Rehabilitation back to the community, reintegration back into the community, that we have somewhat control over within the establishment to deliver those specific programs that can help those inmates so they can go back to their community and start a life all over again. Those are the main focus and our priority as the Department of Justice. We continue to deliver even more programs or enhance the programming at those institutions. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my point is that you have a captured audience already. They are sitting there. A lot of them are saying that they are not doing too much. They are twiddling their thumbs. They can’t get into programs. Programs are once a year. You have a program down in Nats'ejee K'eh in Hay River that is for other use. Can the Minister look at a pilot project, say one here in Hay River or here in Yellowknife, to look at doing a drug and alcohol-specific six-week program for the inmates? It will help them so they won’t come back into the centres. Can the Minister look at that to see if this is something good for us?
Mr. Speaker, this is an area that I think we need to focus on those individuals starting in the centre right now. What the Member is alluding to is outside the centre. Outside the centre, of course, there is an establishment in Hay River that those individuals can utilize once they leave the facility. Once they leave the facility, Mr. Speaker, actually before they leave the facility, we want them to be integrated back into the community. The program that we deliver consists of on-the-land program, as well, which we do in the Sahtu region. It has been very successful. We will continue delivery of those programs, Mr. Speaker. The Aboriginal perspective or way of life programming within the corrections, that is being delivered as well. We have counsellors on hand. We will do what we can to service those individuals and continue delivering programs. It is not just one of those once a year that they miss out on a program. We have a variety of programs that those individuals have options to take. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a final, short supplementary. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, you have a captive audience at these centres here. Ninety percent of them being in there are because of alcohol and drug abuse. It is very simple and very plain. Can this Minister look at a drug and alcohol treatment program at the centre while they are there? There is one in Nats'ejee K'eh. I know that. But while you have them there, go through a program, for God’s sake. It is so simple, yet you wonder why people are coming back. They are not dealing with those drug and alcohol issues outside. You have them there. Let them deal with it. Certainly it will help them. That is what I am asking. That is the question. When will this government realize it?
Mr. Speaker, we do deliver programs where we have contractors coming into corrections. We have elders dealing with those inmates working closely with the counsellors as well. We are trying to reach the people, the inmates within our correction facility to try to reach their root cause of why they are there and deal with those issues at hand. Once they leave the facility, they have the option of attending addiction treatment centre as well, Mr. Speaker, but we do within the corrections, we deliver, again, a vast area of treatment training program workshops that will continue to deliver and enhance those programs as well. Mahsi.
