The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Debates of March 24th, 1993
Topics
Question 580-12(3): Official Opening Of Katannilik Park
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, on March 22, I asked the Minister a question regarding the governments liability for physical or psychological abuse which could be sustained by youth who are sentenced to territorial young offender facilities. The Minister tried to answer but stated that he would review Hansard tomorrow and pick up where he left off. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that once reviewing the question I did not feel it was a legal opinion, I would like to ask the Minister to indicate to the House whether his department has evaluated the legal liability faced by this government for physical or psychological abuse which is inflicted on young offenders while they are residents of open custody and secure facilities. Thank you.
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the well being of young offenders is always of the highest priority with this government. It was during the time that corrections was under the Department of Social Services and it continues to be now that it is under the Department of Justice. The responsibilities which this government has are taken very seriously. The legal aspects of the work, the responsibilities as well as the liabilities are always foremost in the minds of the staff when they carry out their work.
Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether the Minister has answered my question. I do not think he did. I would like to ask whether his department has evaluated the legal liability faced by the government for physical and psychological abuse which could be inflicted on young offenders while they are residents of an open custody and a secure facility. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I thought the answer was clear. I will try to reword it. When the young offenders come into care under the responsibility of the Department of Justice, they are sentenced to open or secure custody. The government takes it upon itself to ensure that they comply fully with all the conditions set out by the courts and existing legislation to ensure that there is no charge which can be substantiated if negligence or any suggestion that we are not complying with the conditions and the letters set out in law on how we are supposed to carry out our responsibilities. In fact, it is done since this responsibility was taken by this government.
Further Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that was the purpose of tabling the documents with regard to the court cases which I tabled in this House yesterday, to try to make the Minister recognize that possibly the legal responsibilities may not be adhered to with regard to triple designation of a facility for our young offenders. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister justify approving the triple designation of the Hay River secure facility, the triple designation of the River Ridge facility, until we know for sure what the government's potential liability could be. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the court cases which the Member tabled are court cases which the Department of Justice is fully aware of. They were reviewed a few months ago when this plan was being considered on a tentative basis. It is my view that what we have done in giving triple designations to these facilities is not in conflict with any legislation or responsibilities we have. We reviewed the situation quite thoroughly before we acted in this case.
Further Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1129
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that it is not in conflict with the legislation which we have, and I agree. With territorial legislation it is not in conflict. However, with federal legislation which looks after secure and more serious type crimes committed by young offenders, it could be
in conflict with the spirit and intent of the legislation. Therefore, would the Minister take it upon himself to review his responsibilities under federal legislation with regard to serious crimes which are committed by young offenders? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, I just informed the Member that the court cases which she tabled yesterday are not surprises to the Department of Justice. They have reviewed those court cases and, in fact, some of the court cases agree with the position we take which is, the least amount of restriction should be placed on young offenders. It is a principle within federal legislation as well as ours. There is no need for us to review or imply that we have not done our homework, we feel that we have. The homework which should be done should be with Members who are sometimes using information which is not correct because it impacts on statements which are made, for instance, by members of the union. When there is no attempt to correct some of the misinformation, then it becomes a problem for good factual debate in this House. Thank you.
Return To Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Question 581-12(3): Legal Liability For Abuse Suffered In Young Offenders' Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Minister of Personnel. Mr. Speaker, I tabled a letter yesterday, dated March 17, 1993, addressed to all tenants signed by the deputy minister of Personnel, Mr. Ken Lovely, apprising them of changes to the staff housing strategy reflecting discussions in this Legislature. In perusing the Hansard yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I note that the Minister in answer to a question from Mr. Koe, said that the information in the letter he referred to has not gone out yet. Mr. Speaker, I would like to know, since I received this letter from employees of the government in my constituency, just a couple of days ago, is this letter which I received and tabled an official response of the government to the staff housing strategy, or is another more official letter to go out in the future? Thank you.
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. The letter has not been sent to tenants. The official letter will go out to tenants in the next few days. I do not know where the Member got the letter from. I would gather it may be a copy of letters which were sent out to some employees, such as divisional boards or regional directors, to peruse in advance of the official letter being sent out.
Return To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Supplementary To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I received this letter from several tenants of GNWT staff housing in Iqaluit, and not officials of the board or the regional government. I will take it, Mr. Speaker, that these are bogus letters which tenants in my constituency received and I will tell them to disregard them, especially the part referring to an act which does not exist, and that they should await official letters which will soon come out. Is that correct? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the Member said it was a letter which was sent out to tenants. I have said it was not sent out to tenants. So, that is the answer. If he says it was sent to tenants, it was not sent to the tenants which gave it to him. Somebody else gave it to the tenants, it was not the Department of Personnel. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Question 582-12(3): GNWT Correspondence Re Staff Housing Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 1130
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.