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 contradicted that and say it is not currently available. Will the Minister set the record straight and tell us if education opportunities are available at the facility for inmates? Thank you.
Minister of Justice.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Further research on this issue has revealed that the department continues to offer the GED to any NWT resident who wishes to take the program, wishes to study and take the examination. It is a set of standardized tests that, when passed, provides certification that the test taker has Canadian-level academic skills at the grade 9 to 10 level. It continues to be an academic option that is available to inmates at NSCC. 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?
As mentioned previously, two recreation officer positions are being converted to correction officer positions. I don't think there will be any change in the availability of the recreation programs to the inmates.
I am still a bit confused about this. Who is currently providing recreation to the inmates, and what kind of training have they received, if any?
As I understand it, corrections officers are providing this service, and they have gone through the necessary training.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
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.
Mr. Speaker, I'm not certain of the number of training officers, but I do know that there has not been any cut in training overall. While we're always looking into programs, there is no financial cutback that has reduced the amount of training or programs at the facility. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
