Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the NWT was witness to yet another scathing report from the office of the Auditor General and on March 5th the Member for Range Lake was put on notice by the Premier to a series of questions that are still left unanswered.
As I said last week with the Premier, the NWT Corrections Act clearly spells out consequences and processes defining a contravention of the act. With these breaches clearly pointed out by the Auditor General and the regulations, can I, for the second time now, get some answers to some of these questions by the Minister of Justice?
Without belabouring the long list of contraventions and violations of this act in the wake of the recent Auditor General’s report, can the Minister indicate if the department will invoke its legal obligation and responsibilities for the administration of its correctional facilities pursuant to the Corrections Act? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve accepted all of those recommendations that were contained in the report. We acknowledge the results aren’t as good as we would have liked them to be. The department has strong plans in place to address those issues. We also recognize that we need improvement in several areas of the corrections service. The OAG worked with staff to refine the direction and the areas where we needed to concentrate our efforts. As a result of the work currently underway, we’ll have a stronger, more modernized corrections service focused on rehabilitation and public safety.
I think we need to take the report and the review and move forward in a positive direction, and I certainly intend to do just that. Thank you.
That’s all fair and good, but clause 49(1) of the NWT Corrections Act states, “The Minister may appoint persons to investigate and inquire into any matter connected with or affecting the administration and operation of the corrections service or a correctional centre.”
Can the Minister, given the seriousness of the circumstances, indicate to the House when such an investigation will take place? Thank you.
I continue to work with the senior management at the department, the deputy minister. I take the concerns highlighted by the Auditor General’s report very seriously, and as Members know, I’ve been here for going into my 12th year. I’ve had questions in the past regarding the corrections service here in the Northwest Territories. It is my objective here to make things better, to action these recommendations, and I certainly am intent on doing just that.
As far as the Member’s questions and concerns, I will have that discussion with the deputy minister and we’ll take things from there. Thank you.
I’d like to remind the Minister of Section 52 of the same act under Offences and Punishment reads, “A person other than an inmate who (a) contravenes this act or the regulations, or (b) conducts himself or herself in a matter that is detrimental to the good order and discipline of a correctional centre, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.”
Will the Minister of Justice authorize an independent investigation into whether charges should be laid under Section 52, for alleged contraventions of the act and its regulations? Thank you.
It’s unclear to me against whom the charges would be pursued. I’m not sure if the Member could clarify just who we should be charging and under what sections of the Corrections Act. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem answering that question from the Minister. That’s his duty, not mine.
As we heard, the department had the opportunity to take corrective action back in 2008, the department refused to do so. Now the Auditor General reminds us, now in 2015, we’re still dealing with those very same issues. So any language we’ve heard from the department thus far that claims that if the audit were done today, we’d have a very different process before us, does not hold any water.
One last time, the Minister has the power to appoint an investigation and hold those accountable for breeches under our act. Will he abide by our law? Yes or no. Thank you.
Again, I will go back to the department. As far as an investigation goes, I believe there was a report just done by the Auditor General. It has 14 recommendations. We agree with all 14 recommendations. We are taking steps to make improvements in our corrections service, and we will continue on that path with our accountability framework.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
