Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Finance recommended that a capital budget for the Department of Justice be presented to this Legislative Assembly that would include a new capital plan for corrections initiatives. Mr. Pollard announced in his budget address that the Financial Management Board had authorized the Department of Justice to develop a corrections construction plan with a funding target of $3 million for 1995-96, rising to $4 million for 1996-97 and $5 million for 1997-98. The detail of the five-year capital plan is being developed now. The first year of the plan will include such things as an emphasis on community-based correctional centres, a young offenders' treatment centre and a women's correctional facility in Nunavut.

There will be a need for increased operational resources to run these new facilities. During the consultation process with the communities, appropriate means of delivering the service will also be explored. There will be very little offset available from resources in existing facilities to redirect for the new initiatives.

I have been directed by FMB to return with more detail on statistics and criteria for the various projects. Once that has been done, I plan to take the entire plan back to the Standing Committee on Finance and return to the Legislature with a supplementary estimate in February. Communities interested in community correctional projects will therefore have time to prepare to become involved.

In the meantime, in the capital plan you have before you, we have identified some rather modest requirements. These requirements are the absolute minimum that we need to maintain the justice system as it is.

Court services and registries have requested funding to secure an area at the Yellowknife Courthouse for the loading and unloading of prisoners. This area is necessary for the safety of the prisoners, RCMP and court staff.

The corrections division budget requirements for 1995-96 address such areas as:

- providing a second vehicle at the Territorial Women's Correctional Centre in Fort Smith;

- providing a vehicle for the Inuvik open custody young offenders' facility;

- installing proper ventilation in the craft room at the young offenders' facility in Iqaluit;

- upgrading the surveillance equipment at Yellowknife Correctional Centre by installing time-lapse VCR recorders;

- renovating a private interview area for high-security inmates at Yellowknife Correctional Centre; and,

- replacing existing glass windows with security glazing at the Baffin Correctional Centre.

As I said earlier, the 1995-96 capital estimates before you are only addressing projects necessary to maintain basic and reasonable operational/safety needs.

Mr. Chairman, I will be pleased to answer any questions that you, the Members, may have. Could I have my staff come in to assist me? Thank you.