The members of the committee are concerned that the per diem rates offered to operators of wilderness camps for adult and young offenders have not kept pace with inflation and the program requirements implemented by the department since the introduction of this valuable rehabilitation program.
Committee members realize that the scope of the program has moved beyond what the department initially envisioned. Nonetheless, the committee believes that the department has a responsibility to ensure the adequacy of fiscal resources provided to operators on a regular basis.
Committee members think that the department must do a better job in communicating the application process involved in replacing capital assets to the wilderness camp operators. According to what individual committee members have been told, some camp operators are eligible for capital funding, whereas other operators are not eligible for any funding. If this is the case, committee members are concerned about equity of access to capital funding for camp operators. Committee members believe that a lack of policy or standards for the accessing of capital funding may be causing animosity between camp operators and regions. This apparent shortfall needs to be addressed by the department.
The members of the committee were uncomfortable in being asked to approve $75,000 in the interim appropriation for the replacement of boats and motors without information on which camp or open custody facility would receive the funding. As with the Department of Health and Social Services, members believe that they were being asked to approve a "slush fund" that would not be subject to committee oversight.
Members are concerned that the apparent choice being offered to inmates as to which camp they wish to go to may be affecting the viability of some operators. A camp that offers hot and cold running water would certainly be more appealing than a camp that has no running water. Members believe that it may be desirable to develop a policy to determine which wilderness camps an offender can attend. The committee would like to discuss this issue further during the business plan review.
The committee looks forward to the main estimates and the opportunity to review the department's plan to address per diem rates for wilderness camp operators.