Mr. Chairman, I just want to speak to the motion. My view, I guess, being part of the government and part of this Legislature, is that the solutions to the many problems that we are faced with. Being Ministers of different departments, and being Members of this Legislature, is all encompassing. I believe that it is possible for us to put together a plan, from the justice point of view, I guess, on what we can do to be more responsive and proactive.
In my view, the solution is going to come more from our approach. As experienced, as well intentioned, and as moral as we are, being elected representatives of our constituents, the fact is that, any solutions that we come up with are just going to come up with other warts in other parts of the body, so to speak. We can fix up certain unsightly things that plague our society, but in the end, I think the solution, in my view, lies with us going to the communities and asking the question, "can we, with communities, work out what the approach should be?"
For instance, in earlier discussions, it is noted that corrections, the way that it is run, the way the institutions have been designed and have been functioning, are inadequate. I will not use any adjective here, but it is agreed that they are not adequate and, perhaps, culturally, very alienating for all aboriginal people, perhaps for all northern people, as well.
The fact is, these have been designed elsewhere. I think it would be, I can say foolish, but I think it would be a better investment of our time and our resources if we took the occasion to go to communities this time and say that we know it is no good, but why do you not tell us what you would design. We have so many people that are presently employed in the system, we have so much money that we spend, and are planning to spend, here is the task we have to do.
We have so many people going to jail, they serve so much time, and here is the scenario. Go to communities, and say, "what would you do to try and come up with solutions?" I think we do the same thing with the different aspects of law, regarding laws about adoption, about family violence, how sentencing should be conducted in the communities, about policing, that was a statement that I made earlier, that we want to talk to communities about how to do it.
I just want to make sure, I guess, that the Member, that is the approach that he would advocate. We have, for instance, a master plan, that was apparently initiated by some former Minister of Social Services, to take a review of the correctional services division, when it was still under Social Services. That has resulted in what they call a master plan being drafted and developed. I think, if I can get that translated, as well, that we will definitely share it with Members, and table it.
That seems, to me, just part of everything else that is coming down in line, with the approach that the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs is suggesting, for the approach to take in community transfer initiatives.
I think the justice thing is going to be one part of that big plan. It is going to tie into what approach we take helping our young people learn parenting skills, and what we teach our children in the schools. It is going to tie in with, of course, the kind of money and support we give to communities, housing, and the kind of responsibilities we transfer to them in a whole range of other areas, the approach we take in transferring responsibility.
I wanted to add that to the record, and the motion is being considered. Thank you.
