Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member wants to know exactly what day such a decision was made. I will check the chronology, I guess, from the Minister of Justice's office because I think it was made before I was the Minister of Justice and perhaps even while the good Member was still Premier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I said that I would review the record of decisions of the previous Cabinet. I know that the previous Cabinet in June of 1998 had approved the location of a young offenders facility here in Yellowknife and that it also approved the major renovations to be made to the adult facility. What has happened since then and I do not know exactly what dates all these happened, but I know it is now being considered that we would propose to just do major, set up major renovations to the existing facility, is eventually just replace the existing facility with a whole new facility and that the existing building would be replaced with a new building and that it would be done in a way that would save us some capital money plus operations and maintenance money by planning it in conjunction with the construction and operation of the young offenders facility so that is really where we are. As I said, decisions to look at changes to the plan as to when they were made, what basis for the change in approach was made, I can provide that to the Member so that part of the question I will take as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members are aware, we are a government that is increasingly under pressure to save money in every way possible and it has come to light that by combining the two facilities we could propose to save money by actually constructing a whole new building for the adult offenders here in Yellowknife and that by looking at sharing the facilities such as recreational facilities, some of the administration staff that we can save money, both in the construction of the young offenders facility and the adult facility by putting them in the same general location and by planning it that they can share some of the services, some of the facilities and it is the view of officials that this is still in line with the original Cabinet decision of June, 1998. This is where we are, I think, the supplementary appropriation will address some of the financial implications of going with this particular approach. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker. Again, the original Cabinet decision was to do renovations to the adult facility. There was never any intent to considering other locations but I have looked at that. The original Cabinet decision contemplated that only renovations were required in order to maintain the adult facility here in Yellowknife. The original Cabinet decision also indicated very clearly that the young offenders facility would be located here in Yellowknife.

It is the suggestion of the officials that major construction of a new facility for adults is the only viable option and that renovations are simply not in the public interest. It is also the view of the officials and my view as well, now that it is time that is the right way to go but also we should locate the adult facility and the young offenders facility in the same area since the lands are available and we can save considerable amounts of capital money and operations and maintenance money by planning to have these two facilities in the same general area and planning to have the integrity of these two intact and yet complementary to one another in regard to the sharing of services and some of the facilities. The supp will be dealt with by this House and I suppose that would be the final approval by this Legislature to proceed with the plans as I have just indicated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice. Is it the practice of governments to rehabilitate people that we have adults and youth in the same facility? Is that normal practice across the country? It sounds, from the horror stories you hear in the hostels and the inquiries that are going on across the country in regard to the history of having people in school facilities, hostels, and whatnot and now basically putting two groups in one facility just does not feel right. Can the Minister expand on where else this practice happens and how often does this occur?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That has been a concern of myself as the new Minister of Justice when this was suggested. I have asked for information. I have visited facilities in places like Red Deer and Lethbridge in order to see for myself how you can plan to have facilities that are in the same vicinity and still ensure that young offenders do not come into contact with adult facilities. That is required by law.

The concern that the Member is expressing is a concern that I have had from the first day. I have looked at it, and I have also looked at the suggestion that perhaps Yellowknife is not the only location, perhaps we could look at locating this facility or facilities elsewhere, although it is not my prerogative to move it because this has already been decided by Cabinet last year. I have taken the liberty to ask these questions. I am of the view that it is in the public interest to continue the approach that we have taken of planning the two facilities in the same area. By planning it, for instance, we cannot afford two gymnasiums, but we can afford one. We can, by planning properly, have that part of the facility shared by the young offenders, as well as by the adult offenders without any contact made, and the administration, and planning, and the staff will ensure that. I see that happening in other facilities, so I know that it can be done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the process that the department used to consult when coming up with this decision, was it done unilaterally by Cabinet? Because

I believe that this decision, in light of the financial restraint that we are under, I think an ounce of prevention is probably a waste of spending $30 million on a brand new facility and putting money back into the system in regard to alcohol and drug programs being shut down, we need more money for education, we need more money for health care.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know exactly who made the decision and what consultation took place in spending $30 million for a brand new facility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That part of the question, I will take as notice. Thank you.