Thank you. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Legislation, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation reviewed Bill 32 at its meeting on September 23, 1992. Currently the responsibility for the administration of the Young Offenders Act is shared by the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Social Services. The bill will amend the Young Offenders Act to remove responsibility for the administration of corrections services for young offenders from the Minister of Social Services.

The bill will make the Minister of Justice responsible for the entire act. The act applies to young persons between the ages of 12 and 18 years, who are charged with offenses. Specific areas of responsibility transferred to the Minister of Justice would include the designation of facilities as place of custody for young offenders, the establishment of a review board for the review of dispositions, the appointment of a territorial Director, youth workers, and a Youth Justice Committee to assist with the administration of the act, and to provide programs and services for young offenders.

Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation remains committed to a process which involves ready public access and input to proposed legislative amendments. However, this bill reflects a straightforward administrative change which is necessary to give effect to the prior decision of this government to transfer responsibility for corrections services from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Justice.

Although there may be differing philosophies with respect to this transfer, the decision has been public for some time. Accordingly, the Standing Committee on Legislation did not hold public hearings on this amendment. However, we wish to affirm our commitment to the principle that the public should have a voice with regard to the principle, and substance, of any proposed law. As a rule, we will continue to give effect to this principle in the future.

Members of the committee expressed some concerns respecting the extent to which the Department of Justice is prepared to take over corrections services, and the associated responsibilities to youth. Members may wish to comment on these as we proceed with today's review of Bill 32 in committee of the whole.

Generally, however, the standing committee found the amendments, and passed a motion on September 23, to report that this bill is ready for consideration for committee of the whole.

Thank you. What is the wish of the committee, that we go clause by clause?

Agreed.

Clause one.

Agreed.

Clause two.

Agreed.

Clause three.

Agreed.

Thank you. That concludes Bill 32. Is it the wish of the committee that we agree that Bill 32 is ready for third reading? Agreed?

Agreed.

Mr. Koe.

I am not sure where a Member is allowed to make comments if they do not really apply to any of the clauses.

That probably was my mistake. However, is it the wish of the committee that we allow Mr. Koe some general comments? Unanimous consent? Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Koe.

Thank you. As the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Legislation mentioned, Members of the committee may wish to make comments, and as a Member of the committee, I wish to make a few comments.

One of the concerns that was raised in the discussions at committee level regarding, not necessarily this act, but the transfer of responsibilities from Social Services to Justice, involve the people in the communities, and in the field, who are responsible for young offenders. Currently the workers, the social services workers, or parole officers, whatever their titles are for dealing with young offenders, have the responsibility, in the field, to deal with the act regarding the Young Offenders Act.

Now, with the transfer from the Minister of Social Services to the Minister of Justice, my concern is who is responsible For the workers who deal with the youths that fall under the Young Offenders Act? The Minister of Justice has no responsibilities for our social workers in the communities. I just raise this, because it is something that some of us had concerns about, it was not covered in this amendment, but I assume that it is a concern for future legislation, or the old act involving the Minister of Justice, and the involving the Department of Social Services.

Again, you have parole officers, or young offenders officers, whatever their titles are, having to report to Ministers in some cases, and I raise it as a concern.

Thank you. Any other comments? No? Mr. Ningark, I apologize.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Personally, I do not have any problems with the proposed Bill 31, so long as the community justice will be involved. I think we should make every effort to enhance community justice. I understand that, in some communities, Mr. Chairman, we have a justice committee. If this new bill becomes an act, approved by the House, we should try and make sure that community justice committees, or whatever you call it, is involved during the process, whatever the process may be, in dealing with young offenders. That is my concern, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Any other comments? Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just with regard to section 28, 41, 89 and 92, the Minister responsible for Social Services is changed to the Minister of Justice, but in section 28, Mr. Chairman, the Minister shall designate, by order classes, or places of facilities, that in the opinion of the Minister, are suitable for open custody.

We do not have justice personnel in the communities. So, how are we dealing with this issue? I think it was discussed, Mr. Chairman, in length in the Standing Committee on Legislation. I will refer to 41, too, but I just want to know how, exactly...

Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.