Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the perimeter fence at NSCC. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the incident of August 2016, once we recognized that there were some improvements that needed to be conducted at the facility, early attempts were not as successful, as the bids came in at way above what we were expecting. However, we are still working on this, and hopefully this situation will be resolved in the near future. Thank you.
I'm going to quote from Hansard here from September 27. I quote the Minister saying, "I understand this project is now under construction and that it will be completed by mid-October. It is on course to be completed, as I say, by October, so the project, which I know has been long awaited by residents in the area, should be completed within the next couple of weeks."
Residents are still waiting, Mr. Speaker. What kind of timelines can the Minister give us? These are unacceptable delays.
There were really two projects here. I understand the work on the fence. There's the outer fence that work has been done on, and I'll have to check on that. The improvements that were considered necessary after the escape that took place in 2016 have not yet been completed. I'm hoping to bring good news about that shortly.
I won't read from Hansard more, but if you want to look at it, I say I criticize the Minister for hoping a lot and not promising firm results back then. I'll do the same now. Why are we only hoping for results on this fence? What is the hold-up? When can we get it done?
Again, I'm not certain whether the Member opposite is talking about the exterior fence or changes that are needed on top of the building. We are working on both of these projects. I understand that one had been completed. I'll have to get back on the Member on that.
The other one, I expect, will be completely shortly. I think we've gone out for proposals on that, but I will certainly keep the Member informed.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister has completed the work on the fence, it will be good of him to be able to tell me that today on the floor of the House. I understand he can't, and that's a concern for me. He knows I'm concerned about this issue. The security work that's been going on, the building that he mentioned, that money has been appropriated for that. It still hasn't been spent. We still can't find a contractor. Why? What is the hold-up? Why can't we spend this money? Why can't we get this work done? Thank you.
As mentioned previously, the problem was that, although money was allocated for the project, the bids came in at very, very high amounts and we know we couldn't proceed with those very large bids. I will advise the Member opposite or the House as to the status on both of these projects. I am, again, hoping that the improvements to the building, the interior part, will be completed shortly. As I said, we went out for bids, I believe a couple of times, and the bids came in at much too high. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
