Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Justice recently completed a corrections service workplace assessment. Can the Minister explain how he is going to address the toxic and unhealthy workplace in the corrections system as described in this report, to ensure that our government will help to rehabilitate our incarcerated Indigenous people so that they can take charge and make changes in their lives? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Members are aware from the numerous times that I have addressed this in this House, this is a project that I am keeping a close eye on because it is so vital to the hundreds of staff in the corrections system as well as the inmates and their families and their futures.
One of the things that came out of the assessment was the creation of a working group with senior management from the Department of Justice, the human resources people from Finance, as well as the UNW. A working group at this level has never been assembled before. The union has never had that type of input into these changes before. This is something that is different than the past, and it's something that I think is really going to give some force to the changes that we hope to implement.
Together, that working group is developing an accountability framework, something that they can be held accountable to, that everyone can be held accountable to, and will really guide the work going forward. After the initial report, there was engagement between the staff and senior managers. There was going to be initial engagement based on what was previously heard so that we could focus on developing solutions. These are solutions that are not just from the top handed down. These are solutions coming from the ground up in collaboration with management.
Another of the changes is that there is going to be a review of operational schedules, including the movement of inmates, which is to address safety concerns that have been brought forward. There is going to be a new software system to coordinate training, recertification, all of those things. That was an issue. There is a renewed focus on retention and retainment. One of the big things is just enhancing the lines of communication, ensuring that management gets on the floor and that they talk to staff. That was one of the big takeaways, and one of the easiest things to remedy, just opening up those lines of communication. I have been following up with my department to ensure that these things are happening because, like I said before, I don't want this to be a report that just sits on a shelf. I want it to result in action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Minister consider reinstating some of the programs that previously helped inmates rehabilitate back into society? Can inmates once again do activities such as cutting grass, shovelling snow, or work regular jobs during their stay, or attend Aurora College to advance their education?
Immediately following the beginning of the pandemic, all of those types of programs stopped. However, in July of 2020, they were reinitiated. That work has been going on in certain places. However, I note the Member is concerned that the work isn't happening in her community. Some of the things that need to be considered are basically public safety. There are always assessments of offenders. It depends on who is at the facility at that time. This is something that I am following up with further with my department because I know that it has been raised a number of times. I am looking into this specifically, but on the whole, those activities can occur.
The workplace assessment report validated all of the concerns of staff within NWT corrections. Until this is corrected in a professional, orderly way, would the Minister agree that no rehabilitation of our incarcerated people will properly take place?
I have to disagree with that. I think that, despite the concerns raised by staff, they still have the ability to perform their jobs and help inmates with rehabilitation. I understand that a healthy workplace where people want to be is always conductive to a better job, and so we are working to make that happen.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister ensure that all of the concerns our Indigenous staff brought forward in the workplace assessment are addressed and that our Indigenous staff are heard? Positive solutions must address these staff issues to ensure rehabilitation of our incarcerated people will properly take place. Does the Minister agree with that statement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is my goal to ensure that the concerns brought forward by staff will be addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
