Debates of Feb. 19th, 1998

This is page numbers 927 - 958 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

GNWT Position On Northern Diamonds

Pay Equity Negotiations

Rent Scale Moratorium

Birthday Greetings To Speaker Gargan

World Championship Dog Mushing Results

Literacy Action Day

The Rising Cost Of Power

Inuvik High Temperature System

Alternate Energy Sources

Birth Registration And Certification

Lack Of Police Services

Literacy Action Day

Government Integrity And Credibility

Literacy Action Day

Returns To Oral Question 162-13(5): Details Of Aurora Fund Expenditures

Return To Oral Question 355-13(5): Number Of Businesses Registered Under Business Initiative Policy

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Policing Services In Sachs Harbour

Long Distance Telephone Competition

Purpose Of The Low Water Surcharge

Spread Of Canine Distemper

Appointment Of District Education Authority

Policy On Alternative Energy Sources

Update On National Unity Issue

High Temperature Heating System Costs

Local Income Support Service Delivery

Election Of Local Education Authorities

Literature Available On Breast Cancer Screening

Community Energy Conservation Efforts

Attendance Of Ministers

Public Consultation Re: Education Authority

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Tabled Document 52-13(5): Details Of Aurora Fund Expenditures

Tabled Document 53-13(5): Letter Dated February 11, 1998 From Mrs. Groenewegen To Mr. Morin

Tabled Document 54-13(5): February 6, 1998 Unedited Hansard - Page 1000

Tabled Document 55-13(5): Letter To Mr. Steen From Mayor Of Sachs Harbour Re: Policing

Tabled Document 56-13(5): Nwtpc Notice Of Power Rate Changes To Fort Mcpherson Customers

Item 15: Notices Of Motions For First Reading Of Bills

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act

Recommendation Respecting The Review Of Corrections

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 956

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 956

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will speak to the first point if Ms. Sanders will speak to the second. On the whole idea of moving federal inmates who are in southern penitentiaries or in institutions to the north, I think in principle, most people would agree that is probably the way to go. However, in reality, we do have overcrowding in the facilities we do have. Most facilities are over capacity and as a general statement, you could say we barely keep up with the inmates we generate here, and we could not afford to bring in other federal inmates at this time. Even though they are former northerners, there is just no room at the inn, so to speak. In terms of how things are going with the concept, I will ask Ms. Sanders to speak to that.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 956

The Chair John Ningark

Ms. Sanders.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sanders

When we last had intensive discussions with the Correctional Service of Canada about the possibility of bringing more inmates north, they backed off because of the capital costs that would have been involved for them for the same reasons the Minister just said, we did not have extra space. It would have required adding space to what we already have and adding program space. When you have people incarcerated for lengthy periods of time like that, it is especially important to have program space. We are just at the most preliminary stage of trying to reopen some kind of discussion on that level in the hope that in the context of division the Correctional Service of Canada would be more interested in some further development work. We have recently visited several facilities in Saskatchewan, including the federal facility for women at Maple Creek, the federal penitentiary at Prince Albert and a smaller facility run by the Prince Albert Band Council, an aboriginally run program jointly funded by the federal government and the provincial government. That gave us a lot of ideas of a very diverse range of possibilities, some of which would not work for us at all and some which might have some application. We are at that stage of doing some early investigations in order to have more information before we formally approach the Correctional Service of Canada.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 956

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. On the list I have Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the community justice committees, there has not been too much concern raised of lately but I know in the past there was a lot of concern with justice committee members not having or reaching burnout stage and not having a lot of people stepping into the committees again. Then committees were depending a lot on these individuals to try and lessen the load as we have heard earlier on the systems we have.

This relates much to the training Mr. Erasmus spoke on. If we had the proper training - I know we do some committee training with individuals who are on there - and if we could focus on those areas, we would go a long way in making these community justice committees much more viable and the people on them would be able to last a lot longer.

That is an area we need to continue to focus on, as well as in the area of division. With division coming, the state of affairs as we know them within justice and corrections, much work needs to be done to prepare us for the new governments for what lies ahead in their futures. As we have heard over and over again, the facilities are continually at their maximum. Then we have a lot of reoccurring offences and the same inmates following the cycle. Can the Minister update us as to the activities in these areas?

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Burnout for justice committee members is always a concern because you are dealing with sometimes delicate and stressful situations. You are dealing with many good people who are committed and care for the community and others who have decided to be part of these justice committees. That is exactly why they are there and we would like nothing more than to keep them, to support them, train them in that field and to help them.

visit communities and to give support and training to individual justice committees and their members. This work is ongoing.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 957

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 957

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move a motion.

Committee Motion 17-13(5): Recommendation To Review And Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 957

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Proceed with your motion, Mr. Roland.