Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Victims And Offenders
The key issue noted by committee Members in the review of this department was the apparent relative priorities of victims of crime and criminal offenders. The total spending on correctional centres and young offenders' facilities in 1995-96 is budgeted to increase more than 10 per cent from the 1994-95. Yet spending to assist victims of crime and those injured by criminal acts is being reduced due to the planned elimination of the criminal injuries compensation program.
The standing committee is concerned that these proposed changes give northerners the wrong message. The implication is that criminals are more important than victims; an implication strengthened by the observation that the total budgeted for victims' assistance in 1995-96 is less than two per cent of the expenditures budgeted for correctional centres and young offenders' facilities.
Committee Members feel that the Justice department has to re-evaluate its priorities. It is very expensive to imprison offenders; therefore, the department should be making every effort to use alternatives to imprisonment where possible. When the standing committee visited Iqaluit in September 1994, committee Members visited the Isumaqsunngittukkuvik Young Offenders Facility there, and also visited with local residents who provide on-the- land programs for young offenders. Members noted that the land-based programs were much less expensive on a per-offender basis, yet appeared to be more effective in rehabilitating young offenders and preventing them from offending again. This reinforces the idea that community-based solutions in the justice system are generally preferable to institutional solutions. While there are some offenders who must be imprisoned to protect the public, there are many more who will benefit more from rehabilitative community-based solutions than from southern-style jails. The committee prefers to see initiatives such as the plans for community-based corrections project that should help rehabilitate offenders, in their own communities where possible, and in a less expensive and more effective manner than in traditional correctional centres.
The proposed increase in funding to correctional centres and secure young offenders facilities is particularly upsetting when contrasted with the cuts in funding to assist victims. The committee feels strongly that the department must reassess the relative priorities of victims and offenders in their estimates.
Mr. Chairman, I have a recommendation here and a motion, at this time.