Debates of June 5, 2006 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for Justice. Recently we’ve heard some news in the media that perhaps the North Slave Correctional Centre doesn’t have the capacity that’s required for persons incarcerated in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister, when the North Slave Correctional Centre was built, how many inmates was it intended to house in relation to how many are in it today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The design was for 154 beds. I believe that’s the number of beds that are there now. My understanding, the latest numbers are in the neighbourhood of 128 and 130. I don’t have today’s numbers, but that’s fairly recent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister in possession of any trends or projections which might indicate that these numbers are going to increase in the near future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Mr. Speaker, I guess I would say that we hope not, but 128 is close to the capacity at 154. We’re not there yet, but should we see pressures, we do have to talk about our corrections model. That is why you’ve seen some of the piloting of on-the-land corrections camps and we’ll continue to look at other ways that we can do that. But it, going forward, could be a concern for us and we’ll have to continue to keep an eye on it. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know if a demand for increased capacity would include re-examining the vacant space and vacant cells which now exist in the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre in Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Mr. Speaker, yes, it would. We’re going to have to make sure that we’re utilizing all of our facilities to the fullest extent possible. We are in discussions with the warden and our management people around possible uses for some of the space at SMCC and we’ll continue that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the interim, then, the positions in Hay River that were going to be reduced through attrition that has not taken place, what is the Minister’s plan for those positions at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 50-15(5): Capacity Of North Slave Correctional Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re still discovering that, or still analyzing that. As the House will remember, we reduced the budget, so the money is not there for the facility, but the plan was to reduce the…(inaudible)…allocation for attrition. That, by and large, has not happened. We are talking about the possible uses for some of that space that will probably require new programming and I think we need to have that discussion when we come forward in the business plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.