Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the review of the 1992-93 Main Estimates, the committee recommended that the department initiate land skill survival programs at all corrections centres. As a result, we expected to see some requirement for related capital equipment, but did not. The committee will expect the Department of Justice to include funding in the 1994-95 Capital Estimates for culturally relevant corrections programs such as wilderness camps and land skills survival programs as recommended earlier this year.
Mr. Chairman, the committee is aware that the federal government is interested in constructing a $30 million federal penitentiary in the Northwest Territories to accommodate 65 to 100 federal inmates from the territories. Directly and indirectly, this could create over 100 jobs in the N.W.T. Options which were presented include federal or territorial operation and control. Members recognized both merits and potential pitfalls for a program such as this based on experience with other program transfers. However, the committee feels the opportunity should be pursued.