Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. During the last Capital Estimates, Members approved funds for an enhanced perimeter fence and security upgrades for the North Slave Correctional Centre. I'd like to know whether the work on this fence has been completed. Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, really there are two fences that we're talking about. There are the improvements that are needed as a result of the critical incident of August 2016, and a budget was approved for this work, but the bids came in a lot more than expected.
With respect to the perimeter fence, the tenders closed on August 29, 2017. I'm not sure whether the contract has been formally awarded yet, but I can find that information out and provide that to the Member opposite. Thank you
I appreciate the Minister providing that information at his convenience. It's my understanding from a constituent who is at the jail often as a volunteer that the inmates aren't using the bigger fenced yard where the cultural program is available. Is that because of this fencing issue?
Yes, it is a result of the incident that took place last year. Clearly, enhanced security was required and, as I say, a budget was approved, but the bids came in at far higher than expected. We are now going to a revised approach that hopefully will lead to an enhanced security so that the inmates will be able to use that area again, and hopefully this can be accomplished at a reasonable cost.
I wonder if the Minister could tell us when these improvements that were part of the RFP will be completed, when the inmates will be able to use that larger yard again.
I'm hoping, Mr. Speaker, that a tender can go out shortly. Again, I will provide information as I receive it.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and my thanks to the Minister. Are we looking at spending more money than we approved in the last Capital Estimates in order to upgrade this perimeter fence? Mahsi.
I would hope not, and that exactly was the problem, is that -- hope springs eternal -- the problem was, frankly, that the bids came in at far, far higher than we had expected. As I said last year, good fences make good neighbours, but we have to keep costs in mind. We're hoping with respect to the critical incident response by improving the security in that area that a more modest yet appropriate security system can be set up so that the inmates can again use this area of the facility.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
