I understand that the last time that the remand centre was used in Hay River was 2005. Inmates on remand are considered high-risk, and for that reason they have to be housed in a medium- or maximum-security facility, and currently the facility in Hay River is minimum-security. Housing remand inmates in that facility would hinder the operations, simply because the facility, as I mentioned, is minimum-security, not medium or maximum, which is required.

I do know that there is a lot of traffic of prisoners back and forth to court, and that can add some additional expenses. I am hoping that members of my profession will be using video conferencing more often to reduce some of those costs.

It is really a matter of security to have Hay River act again as a remand centre. It would require considerable changes to the facility as it now stands to raise it from minimum to a medium or maximum, and at this time we are not contemplating those costs. Thank you.