Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee was concerned about the substantial reduction of $425,000 to youth wilderness camp funding.
The justification given by the department for the cut is the lack of youth receiving custodial sentences, and, as a result, there has been minimal use of the Youth Wilderness Camp Program. The committee is concerned that once this funding is cut out of the program, it will be difficult to reinstate this funding.
The committee is also concerned that minimal use of the Youth Wilderness Camp Program is a result of poor program delivery and/or design. The committee understands the potential benefits of the Youth Wilderness Camp Program and recommends that a program redesign may prove better than cutting out $425,000 from the program.
The committee would like to see the department develop new models for the Youth Wilderness Camp Program similar to the review the department is currently completing on the Wilderness Camp Program for adult offenders and provide committee an opportunity for input.
Outdoor Recreation Area For North Slave Correctional Centre
During the business plan reviews in September, the committee was left with the impression that the outdoor recreation area was going to be built as an arena.
However, the department has clarified that it "has no intention to build a new arena for the North Slave Correctional Centre." Rather, "the Department has proposed an outdoor recreation area in the capital plan to provide a fenced area for inmate outdoor activity and programs such as healing circles, similar to the grounds of the old Yellowknife Correctional Centre."
It should be noted that there was an outdoor arena on the grounds of the old Yellowknife Correctional Centre. Given the close proximity of the North Slave Correctional Centre to the new Yellowknife Multiplex arena, the committee is concerned that an outdoor arena may not be the best use of government funding That concludes the discussion on the Department of Justice, Mr. Chair. Thank you.