Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has recently come to light through an unprecedented letter-writing campaign by the inmates of the North Slave Correctional Complex that things are very wrong with our correctional system. A number of my honourable colleagues have spoken about this already today, and I think it is important we shed light on this because it is an area of public interest. The foundation of our justice system has always been based on rehabilitation and giving Northerners a second chance after they take responsibility for their actions. However, inmates are now telling us it is becoming harder and harder to successfully rehabilitate themselves. We have heard reports of program cuts that have removed opportunities for basic education, recreation, and healing programs.
To make matters worse, I have recently been provided with new information that reveals a similar situation for our correctional service. Officer training, equipment, and staff budgets have been cut. Officers are being forced to work exhausting shifts without relief, required to provide recreational support without proper training, and the programs offered to inmates are being rushed to boost participation numbers. Overcrowding remains an issue, and morale among staff is low.
Mr. Speaker, our peace officers are the front line of our justice system. We owe it to them to ensure they are safe, supported, and respected in their roles, just as we must ensure inmates are allowed to seek the help they need to become productive members of society. We cannot continue on supporting a system that is not properly resourced, where budgetary constraints seem to be the driving force. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice to see if fiscal considerations are withdrawing support and services for inmates and support for our correction officers. We owe it to them to give them the support they need to do a very demanding job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.