Mr. Speaker, the operating procedures of a number of facilities in Alberta and Ontario, as well as policies for open custody facilities in the Northwest Territories, have been sent to the manager of River Ridge for reference to make the adjustment from secure programming to open. It should be recognized all the programming is done in the facilities, such as the young offenders' facilities, operate on a program that is done on a case by case basis. Each individual young offender has developed an individualized program, since the needs of each young offender is different. This is recognized. Some of the things that will be done, of course, are all of the cell doors at River Ridge will remain unlocked and the young offenders will have more movement and less supervision within the facility. There will still be some restricted areas which will be out of bounds to the young offenders, such as offices and staff rooms.

There will be more community involvement which will take place with less supervision, with more temporary releases for such things as attending the local school, Arctic College, or work release programs and community work. Those who cannot attend local schools because of special needs or short sentences will be able to attend classes within the facility. The manager will also make sure there is increased access to recreation. They will have increased access to facilities such as gymnasiums and will have easier or more access to local festivities such as the spring carnival. Young offenders in open custody will also have more access to on the land programs because the security procedures are less stringent, as you know. On the land programs for secure custody young offenders are difficult because of the higher level of supervision and security required. This makes is difficult for on the land projects. So, presently, the operation procedures in River Ridge are being rewritten by the staff to accommodate the change. There are ongoing staff meetings taking place, the director of corrections has travelled again down to Fort Smith today to make sure that the staff are given adequate support and leeway to have as much involvement as possible in the transfer process.