Mr. Speaker, River Ridge is a new facility. In the opinion of many people who have toured it, it looks like a miniature, modernized Alcatraz. It is a very secure, perhaps overly secure, facility. I say that because both the federal legislation which governs incarceration of adults and especially young offenders, both the federal Young Offenders Act and the territorial Young Offenders Act, states as one of their up-front principles, that the least amount of restriction should be exercised on each young offender, keeping in mind the safety for the public and the person themselves. You do not go on the principle that you have to lock all the doors three times and bar all the windows. You go on the principle that less is better. You do the minimum to restrict the movement and the freedom of these people who are sentenced. When you look at River Ridge as a facility, it is new, it has very secure cell doors, but these rooms are private rooms. There is one bed in each little room.
My own perception, and the perception of other people I have talked to, is who should have private rooms? Should it be children who are sentenced to secure custody, or less serious offenders, such as young offenders who are sentenced to open custody? We take the view, perhaps, those in open custody would appreciate having their own room and this is what River Ridge is providing. It is not a leading factor, but I raise it because many Members may not be aware of the physical outline of the facility. In Hay River at the secure facility, it is a dormitory and there are a number of beds in each room. The light in the facilities is also very different. In the River Ridge facility there is much more daylight and natural light coming in, it has a high ceiling in the main living quarters plus a great panoramic view from the end of the building. With some subtle changes, I think the facility can be made to feel much more homey and open. The fact that doors will not be locked is going to make a tremendous change, Mr. Speaker.
I have been through the facility, and I must admit, it is incredibly claustrophobic for someone like myself. I have been through many institutions over the years, all through my own choosing mostly.
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There is a view, again I bring to the Member's attention, River Ridge is not going to stay only as a facility for young offenders sentenced to open custody. It is triple designated. We are taking this measure because we need the space and this is the best utilization of the space at this time, and it gives us the flexibility we need. As I said earlier, if we do not take this course of action it would have meant opening another facility for well in excess of $300,000 to meet the demands we have. I must say while I appreciate the anxiety of the River Ridge staff when this was first announced, I can also tell you I appreciate the attitude they have taken to it and the statement which at least one of them has made is that they feel they can do the job and rise to the challenge this government has called on
them to face. I think it will be very workable. There is no difficulty in meeting the spirit and intent of the legislation which the Member referred to. Thank you.