Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I, too, received letters from my constituents who are incarcerated at the North Slave Correctional Complex. The inmates are asking for things like a place to do arts and crafts. They are asking to have a trainer hired who is skilled, to prevent injuries while they are working out indoors.

Mr. Speaker, the inmates need traditional Aboriginal activities to help them with their healing. They are there because they had issues, and they would like an opportunity to work on those issues. They need educational programs to give them a chance to integrate back into society and become public, productive members of society. Mr. Speaker, my inmate constituents want a chance for self-improvement. However, during the last few months, many programs and opportunities were taken away. In addition, Mr. Speaker, they are asking for more case workers and more training targeted to trades, and even being allowed to go outside.

Mr. Speaker, one inmate even indicated that many Indigenous inmates are lactose intolerant and is asking for alternatives to milk for program supplements. Mr. Speaker, on February 24, 2016, I made a Member's statement about the cost to society of housing inmates. I believe at that point it was already over $250 per day, per inmate. Eighty-five to 90 per cent of the inmates are in there because of alcohol- and drug-related charges. I spoke about the disproportionate number of Indigenous inmates and how we need to provide programs to support them and return them to mainstream society. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.