This is page numbers 631 - 660 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 aboriginal.

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Supplementary To Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions

July 26th, 1999

Page 644

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Recently, very recently, Mr. Speaker, this government made a decision to build a new capital project in Yellowknife. Does the Premier understand the difference? Does his government understand the difference between a new capital project and a renovation? A very simple question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. Yes.

Further Return To Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Question 240-13(7): Process For Capital Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Premier because I want to follow up on the questions I was asking Mr. Kakfwi, but I did not like the answers I was receiving from Mr. Kakfwi. I would like to direct my question to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, the renovation of the Yellowknife correctional facility was to be financed with a contract from Nunavut at $4 million a year over seven years. The young offenders facility was to be financed through a P3 project. This did not require, then, any lump sum capital amount such as the $30 million now proposed. My question to the Premier is, where are they getting the $30 million of capital for the new facility? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the financing of this initiative will be done through within the system or even if we have to borrow, we will do that. I understand that the interest on borrowing is substantially less. I think it is five percent, but I am not too clear on that. I do not know the exact details of the financial side of this whole initiative, but I understand that we will have to find it within the system. We may even have to borrow it. Thank you.

Return To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the capital budget of this government has been substantially reduced. That was the whole concept of going P3, so we could continue with more capital development and the jobs and economy created by that construction. The whole capital budget is only $80 million or $90 million a year and now we are going to find $30 million? That is not a good answer. From within the system? We cannot give $5 million for education. Where are we going to find $30 million in the system. Is there a safe of money up there that they have not told us about? Thirty million dollars? That is not an acceptable answer within the system. Could the Premier please be more specific? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to have to take it as notice. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Question 241-13(7): Capital Funding For Correctional Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 644

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on the same question of my colleagues, I have some real concerns, to the Minister of Finance, in relation to having our young offenders in the same facility as hard core criminals. I think that we have to keep in mind that these young people have certain rights, and we have some rights to protect our youth. For the amount of money we are talking about and getting the

resources put into the area of developing our youth and keeping them out of crime and making sure that they have the resources to have the full education system paid for and get good healthy lifestyles to live and also have the resources to teach them. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what has been done in regards to ensuring that all avenues were taken to ensure the protection of the youth was considered as a first priority of this government and why was that not brought up when we dealt with the budget in this House for this year?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The question is directed to the Minister of Finance.

Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, the project, at the time it was proposed in the Main Estimates, was still intended to be done in a phased process. It was only after the committee review of the Main Estimates that the consultants, I understand, came back and suggested that the project could be done more economically if it were done in a shorter period of time and with a different approach. Therefore, it could not be included in the Main Estimates as the way in which to proceed because the decision was not made at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to that response, I think the decision of this House to support that budget knowing that a young offender facility will be housed in the same facility as other inmates in YCI in which we have seen riots take place, we have seen people escape from that facility and also we have seen treatment of certain individuals in that facility has not been the greatest. I fear for the young people who will be housed in this facility. Why was that decision not gone out for a public review by any interested groups in regard to the protection of children in the Northwest Territories?

Supplementary To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, I am not the Minister of Justice, but this government has a statutory obligation to ensure that young offenders are treated in a proper manner. I believe that the facility as proposed will meet all of the requirements of the Young Offenders Act. In fact, I know that it must meet all of the requirements of the Young Offenders Act. Therefore, I am confident that the process or that the project will protect young offenders from interaction with adult offenders, as it rightly should. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that parents of these youth who end up going to this facility will probably feel a little differently than the Minister of Finance. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, is there any public review going to take place to get feedback from parents and other interested groups who deal with young offenders so they can have a say in regard to where those children will be housed?

Supplementary To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of any public review process that is planned. I believe that, as I said, the department is ensuring that all of the requirements of the Young Offenders Act are met to ensure their complete segregation and safety.

Further Return To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Question 242-13(7): Protection Of Young Offenders
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 645

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the whole question about not consulting and notifying parents or aboriginal organizations who may have children in such a facility, have you talked to the different aboriginal organizations? In regard to your consultation process, have you made any attempts to consult with the aboriginal organizations who are negotiating self-government agreements when it comes to justice issues on this?