Thank you. I am pleased to present the Capital Budget of the Department of Justice. The following points are ones that I believe will be of particular interest to Members in reviewing the department's Capital Budget.

The corrections services division operates seven facilities offering services to adult and young offenders across the whole of the territories. To replace the facilities as they now exist, would require approximately $75 million, as a point of interest. The capital expenditures which are proposed and introduced today are required in order to maintain correctional facilities at the current inmate or young offender capacity. No requests for expansion are being considered. The department has completed a master development plan that considers the adequacy of the present facilities and which projects the needs of Northwest Territories into the future. Evaluation of this study is beginning, but none of these recommendations are the subject of these proposals for the fiscal year 1993-94. Today I am requesting consideration of renovations or additions to our present existing facilities in order to make them safer. I anticipate that expenditures will allow for better programming to occur for more inmates with less risk to public. The outer wall of the Yellowknife Correctional Centre gymnasium must be replaced for the sake of health and safety. The bricks are cracking and the wall has become and will become unsafe if it is not repaired. The Yellowknife Correctional Centre's fence does not cover the entire property. It is also in need of extensive repairs. Concerns have been expressed about public security. The internal security of the centre is also compromised when members of the public can approach the facility and leave illegal or dangerous items on the property. To meet the maximum security rating of the centre and other security needs, institutional types of security fencing must be constructed around the entire property. In light of these remarks, I invited Members of the committee to examine in detail the 1992-93 budget of the Department of Justice and would be pleased to try and answer any questions.