The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) conducts financial and performance audits in all three northern territories. Financial audits tell the Legislative Assembly and the public whether the government is keeping proper records and presenting its financial information fairly. Performance audits consider whether programs are being run according to the department’s own legislation, regulations, directives and policies, and with due regard for economy, efficiency, effectiveness and environmental impacts. Since 2006 the Auditor General has completed nine performance audits in the Northwest Territories and issued one status report evaluating progress on the recommendations of previous audits.
The Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Government Operations is mandated to review the reports of the Auditor General and make recommendations to the Government of the Northwest Territories. Members look for efficiencies, best practices and gaps, with the intent of improving services to residents. The Auditor General’s reports play a crucial role in Members’ scrutiny of government spending and performance.
Role of the Department of Justice in the Delivery of the Corrections Service
Under the Minister, the Department of Justice is responsible for corrections services in the Northwest Territories, as outlined in the Corrections Act and the Corrections Service Regulations. Within the department, the corrections service is responsible for probation, parole, after-care and adult institutional services. It is also responsible for the custodial detention of youth as well as their supervision in the community under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act and the territorial Youth Justice Act. The mission of the corrections service is to manage offenders in the least restrictive manner possible and to provide opportunities for their rehabilitation and reintegration through holistic and culturally relevant approaches for the common good of society.
The director of corrections is obligated under the act to administer the affairs of the corrections service and develop and supervise correctional programs. The managers of correctional facilities are responsible for assisting the director in fulfilling these obligations. The department is responsible for the administration of correctional facilities in accordance with the Corrections Act, regulations and directives, including their safe, secure and efficient operation.
There are four adult facilities and one youth facility in the Northwest Territories: the North Slave Correctional Centre, the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre, the Fort Smith Correctional Complex (male and female units) and the North Slave Young Offender Facility.
These units house inmates on remand, who have been ordered by a court to be detained in custody while awaiting trial, and those who have been sentenced to terms of incarceration shorter than two years. These facilities also house some federal offenders with terms of incarceration are longer than two years and some offenders from Nunavut due to overcrowded facilities there.
The department is responsible for ensuring that mental health services are provided to inmates, just as they are to residents of the Northwest Territories under the territorial Mental Health Act.
Operating Environment and Current Challenges
Corrections is a significant issue in the Northwest Territories. The NWT crime rate was the highest in the country in 2013, according to Statistics Canada. The NWT violent crime rate is also among the highest in the country. A variety of demographic and social realities in the Northwest Territories contribute to the higher crime rate. These include an inmate population that is disproportionately Aboriginal and a relatively young population with low educational attainment. Also noted is the widespread misuse of drugs and alcohol often related to the traumatic impact of residential schools. In this context, the Department of Justice faces several challenges, including managing facilities in which the majority of admissions are for violent offences and substance abuse. Anger management and mental health issues are significant concerns. In addition, according to the department, many inmates are affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, although few are medically diagnosed.
Data from the Department of Justice shows that there were 692 adult male admissions to correctional facilities in the 2013-14 fiscal year, including 653 at the North Slave Correctional Centre and 14 at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex (male unit). The figures include both remanded and sentenced offenders admitted directly to facilities but do not include those transferred between facilities.
In 2013-14 approximately $38 million was allocated to the corrections service. This represents about 32 percent of the department’s operations and expenditures budget and includes almost $29 million for adult and youth facilities. During this same time period, the department spent about $14 million to operate the North Slave Correctional Centre and $6 million to operate the Fort Smith Correctional Complex (male and female units). There are 267 funded positions in the corrections services with about 100 at the North Slave Facility and 21 at the Fort Smith male facility.
Across the NWT, particularly outside of Yellowknife, there are significant gaps in programs and services in communities, including for offenders. For this reason it is especially important that inmates receive access to rehabilitation programs and services while in custody to support their reintegration back into the community and help to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. However, some inmates spend only a few months in custody, which poses challenges for the department with respect to adapting the type and frequency of programs and services to meet inmates’ needs.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, through you, I’d like to turn this over to my colleague Mr. Yakeleya.