Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice as well today with regard to the conditions at the North Slave Correctional Complex. Mr. Speaker, we know that the main yard at the centre has been closed for over a year now since the escape back in August of 2016. Can the Minister speak to the cultural programs that inmates receive since the yard has been closed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. We are hoping that area that the Member opposite spoke of can be soon reopened. We originally went out to contractors to provide some more security. Unfortunately, the bids came in at an amount way above the amount expected. We do, however, expect to have that rectified by the end of the year.
The facility does have three traditional areas for the delivery of programs to inmates; one located inside the facility and the other two outdoors within the secure perimeter. These areas are used for smudging, one-on-one counselling, and sharing circles. At present, unfortunately, the two outside yards are not accessible due to repairs; however, once the repairs are completed these outside areas will once again be utilized for traditional activities led by a traditional counsellor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to take a moment to maybe move off inmate concerns and, as my colleague from Kam Lake raised earlier, some aspect around concerns with corrections and potentially corrections staff. So I want to go down the line of questioning relevant to first of all are we adequately staffed.
Can the Minister describe maybe the minimum staffing numbers at the centre and confirm that there are enough, in fact, full-time staff assigned to each shift to meet the requirement?
Mr. Speaker, I don't have the numbers of staff or their shifts in front of me, but I am given to understand that there is adequate staffing at the facility.
Then I would like to ask the Minister, we know that obviously corrections is a very high-risk, and high-stress environment is probably a better term. Can the Minister explain what training corrections officers receive on an ongoing basis to equip them to deal with the challenges of this job?
Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to the individual programs that corrections officers might take, but I believe that they are up to a Canadian standard. Clearly, ongoing training is required. I understand that there has been no cut in the training program.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then maybe what I will ask the Minister instead is: can the Minister then describe how training and skill levels are monitored? Not what training is being provided, but can he describe how training and skill levels are being monitored to ensure that each shift is staffed with an adequately trained corrections staff?
I am certain that the senior staff at the facility does monitor these things and does review the training and the training needed for all of the staff at the correctional facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
