Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to commit to the public record an accounting of what we are losing by the closure of the Dene K'onia Young Offenders Facility in Hay River.
Mr. Speaker, last week in the Legislative Assembly in the visitors' gallery we had present with us many of the laid-off workers from the Dene K'onia and many of you, as you mingled with them, know who they are. This facility opened in 1986, almost 20 years ago; it was the longest-operating young offenders facility in the Northwest Territories. The collective years of services of the 12 full-time and 10 casual employees are over 210 years of experience and service.
Mr. Speaker, this facility provided remand, secure custody and open custody for male and female young offenders over the years. They offered unique programming, a cultural program, which involved hunting and living on the land, including a lands program. Some of their programming was also related to youth achievement; for example, the young people would learn First Aid, CPR, things like small engine repair, and practical life skills. They would do community hours; they earned high school credits through this. Some of the kids that were in the facility did go to the public school and, those who couldn't, received their education through an educational program that was offered in house.
Mr. Speaker, over the years, this facility and these workers affected the lives of many young people and many families; not just in the South Slave region, but from across the Northwest Territories. They received things like drug and alcohol counselling through the trained staff. They received the services of a psychologist for things like anger management, individual and group counselling.
Mr. Speaker, 85 percent of these workers were aboriginal people and more than half of them had spent their entire life in the Northwest Territories. They provide a tremendous benefit to the community. The young people themselves were involved with support for community events; they did work in the summer and the winter for seniors. They had a contract where they picked up garbage on the highway, then they would use that money to put together Christmas shoeboxes for less fortunate children in other countries. They were given work experience opportunities through local businesses in Hay River.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.