Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our next resolution has to do with the Land Skills Survival Program. Committee Members were impressed with the success of the Land Skills Survival Program run by the Baffin Corrections Centre and believes similar programs would prove beneficial in other correctional centres in the Northwest Territories.
Debates of Oct. 2nd, 1992
Topics
Committee Motion 222-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 90
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Social Services initiate land skills survival programs at all correctional centres.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Lewis.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
Just a brief question, Mr. Chairman. Does this mean, then, that right throughout the territories, where we do have people in correction facilities, that they will be supplied with guns and ski-doos, so that they can, in fact, be on the land and learn how to use those machines and weapons?
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
In those cases where it is considered appropriate the committee felt that because of the success that has been shown with this program, and its impressive record in decreasing people coming back into the correction system, it was worthwhile program. It means in the long run we are going to pay less.
Since the program has been very effective at the Baffin Correctional Centre, we are recommending that, yes, programs throughout the territories be modeled on that one.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Lewis.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
I do not mean to be humorous, Mr. Chairman, but it could be a fact that they will not return to the facility, if you give somebody a ski-doo, a gun, and a highway, they keep on moving. Baffin Island is very difficult to get off, once you are on that island, it is a very big island, you know, and it is very hard to get to Montreal by ski-doo.
However, I can imagine in the Yellowknife Correctional Centre, if you decide that you are going to implement this program, that there could be people that would not return. I find it difficult to accept a universal affirmative motion, which says that all correctional facilities should be provided with that program.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
To the motion. Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we make sure that we only give out snowshoes in areas that are too accessible. Seriously, I would expect that the program, like any program in corrections, should be drawn up with proper consideration for the people who would be given the chance to take advantage of it. It was our expectation that you would not find dangerous criminals necessarily being offered a chance for this. In particular, people who have been granted work release, and are able to leave the confines of the facility for certain periods of time, have demonstrated a certain reliability, and would probably be the only ones who would be given the opportunity to partake in some of the activities.
I think that we have to expect that, in the long run, common sense is going to prevail. We have to hope that it will. The bottom line though, is that if we can come up with a program that will help people learn life skills that will enable them to stay out of a correctional facility, that we are further ahead to take some chances on occasion.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 223-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 91
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our next resolution has to deal with the presentation of a realistic budget. The committee was concerned, when they were told that the department was not allowed to budget for increments. By the way, Mr. Chairman, this was not the only department in which we had this concern.
As a result, the department's budget for 1992-93 shows virtually no increase from the 1991-92 revised forecast. We know that in many cases the department's main estimates are not realistic, and supplementary funding must be provided. It seems to us, Mr. Chairman, a rather fruitless way to prepare a main estimate, and we know that we are not seeing figures that represent a real budget.
Committee Motion 224-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 92
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Therefore, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Social Services prepare its 1993-94 main estimates budgeting for known increments, as realistically as possible.
Further, the committee recommends that the Financial Management Board take a more critical look at departmental budgets in comparison to the revised forecast, to ensure everything is budgeted for, as realistically as possible, and departments should comment in the S.C.O.F. document on significant changes from the 1992-93 revised estimates to the 1993-94 main estimates.
Committee Motion 224-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 92
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 224-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 92
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The final resolution from the Standing Committee on Finance has to do with measuring output and effect. The committee wishes to know what the department will accomplish with the money put into Social Services Programs.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 1st, 1992
Page 1309
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Social Services report, as a minimum, the following performance measurements in the 1993-94 main estimates: social assistance statistics and trends; public satisfaction with social services, and programs; rates of suicide, alcohol and drug addiction; local employment in social services; social services cost containment; and, social services facility utilization.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
I believe that concludes the motions from the committee.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We are dealing with the Department of Social Services. Any further general comments? Should we go line by line?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
The Chair John Ningark
Page 15-10, directorate, total O and M $11.442 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Family and children services, total O and M $13.815 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 225-12(2): To Adopt Recommendation No. 93
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1310
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Correctional services, total O and M $19.497 million. Mr. Gargan.