Members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs support the establishment of a stand-alone probation service for the Northwest Territories. The advantages are twofold. The separation of the probation task from the social service task will improve social service delivery at the local level and will also provide increased sentencing options for the judiciary and community justice committees.

In the opinion of the committee members, there is a need to make a decision on the placement of the probation officers in the near future. Even though committee members would like to see probation officers in as many communities in the Northwest Territories as possible, it is realized that this is not probable. Therefore, to ensure that our employees (probation officers) have stability in their lives, the department should make their decision on community placement and live with it in the interim. Committee members are of the opinion that opportunities to adjust the placement of probation officers will present themselves in the future through resignations and internal competitions.

Some members were concerned that the way departments presented information confused Northerners in that clear distinctions were not made between constituencies and administrative districts. Committee members would appreciate future business plans and main estimates establishing a distinction between constituencies and administrative districts.