Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple of questions in regards to the choice of wilderness camps.

I did not get a chance to get clarification. The last response I heard it is the young offenders' or inmates' choice as to where they go. I am concerned, keeping in mind these people are inmates or young offenders incarcerated for a reason, and the camps offer a variety of services. Assuming the correction staff is doing their supervising and looking at the various case files and deciding what is best in terms of rehabilitation for the various inmates.

When that is all said and done, regardless of what the correction service may think in terms of the best-suited wilderness camp facility, can the inmate still pick where they want to go?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I recognize there are a number of variables here. My concern is that if that is the deciding factor, and as the deputy indicated that with the communications being what they are, even though there is no big bin of brochures where they can see all the various amenities, word gets around that we are going to end up with a northern Club Med here with a couple of highly utilized facilities.

The ones where life is a little tougher, or whatever they decide, that inmates will not go. If they have the final say, it just seems to take the decision making out of the mix.

Are there conditions where if they go and come back, is that it? Or can they just go and come back repeatedly? What sort of criteria and conditions are put on this, so that it is recognized for what it is? It is a chance to go live on the land in a more rustic environment then you would have in a jail, but one that has many other positive factors to it? I have some concern here as to how this is being done, especially if it has evolved over time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. General comments. What is the wish of the committee? Detail? We are on page 5, Department of Justice, total Justice operations and maintenance, $32,764,082.

On page 7, Department of Justice, total capital $2,786,000.

I would like to thank the Minister and his witnesses. What is the wish of the committee? I believe we have already agreed to deal with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Is that the wish of the committee?

The Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, do you have any general comments?

Does the standing committee responsible for this department have any comments? Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee met with the Minister and his staff on March 17, 2000 to review the proposed 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation for the department. The committee made note of the following issues.

Forced Growth

The committee noted that in the opening remarks given by the Minister, the department gave notice that a "forced growth request for consideration of the Financial Management Board" was made recently but "was not reflected in the Interim Appropriation request".

The committee asked the Minister for further detail, and he explained the request is to ensure increased fuel costs are met for the remainder of the year. The request for $730,000 in proposed forced growth is still waiting for consideration by the Financial Management Board.

The department, at the request of the committee, agreed to provide further detail concerning the request.

Land Development

Committee members noticed that some communities received funding for land development whereas some did not. See page 3-4, Land and Buildings, Capital, Departmental Submissions, MACA, 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation.

In many smaller communities, capital projects including land development, provide much needed employment opportunities, and an important contribution to the local economy.

The committee reiterated its position for equal across the board funding cuts, instead of funding cuts to specific regions or communities.

The department, at the committee's request, agreed to provide additional details concerning all existing and proposed land development projects.

The committee, in its review of the proposed 2000-2001 interim appropriation and the 2000-2001 five-year capital plan, noted that some capital projects were the subject of funding discrepancies. See page 1-4, Capital, Departmental Submissions, MACA, 2000-2001 Interim Appropriation.

Committee members were also concerned that funding may have weighed favourably for Ministers' constituencies.

The department, at the request of the committee, agreed to provide further detail concerning any funding discrepancies for its capital projects to the committee prior to the review of the proposed Interim Appropriation in the Legislative Assembly.

The department also agreed to provide to the committee a constituency breakdown of all proposed capital projects that were put on hold.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes the committee's report.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to call in witnesses. Does the committee agree?

Sergeant-At-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses in?

Mr. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record?

Thank you. I would like to ask the Members if they have any general comments or questions for the Minister regarding the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs interim appropriation. General comments? Mr. Bell.