Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of community justice and corrections, this is an issue I had contacted the Minister on. I wanted to get it on the record here. In the area of the facilities that are maintained right now and those new ones that would be coming on line, issues were raised in my constituency around the programming that would be offered to inmates and the choice of programming, mainly in the area of church services and spiritual counselling.
As well, concerns were raised in the Delta. I received calls not only from my own constituents but also from the surrounding communities. They felt that family members who were in those facilities, however unfortunate that is, would not be allowed to practice their faith or the family faith that they have grown accustomed to. Those doors would be closed. Then, on top of that, concerns of if that is the case and they do not take that programming, or disagree to take it, they would be deemed as uncooperative or not wanting to take counselling and it would affect how they were dealt with.
I did communicate with the Minister on that issue. I wanted to raise it here again as an area of concern, just to ensure that as we are looking at newer ways of dealing with inmates, yes, some would be deemed appropriate. I think it is still a matter of individuals having the right to choose which services they could acquire in the area of spiritual counselling. Thank you.