Thank you. Minister.
Debates of March 6th, 2018
This is page numbers 3639 – 3680 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.
Topics
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have an exact figure, as I mentioned previously, but out estimate is it is about $250,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
Again, it was an estimate, Mr. Chair, but I understand it is about the same as the previous year. Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, training concerns were identified as a key issue by staff at the correctional facility, who contacted Regular Members raising their concerns. How is the Minister addressing those concerns around staff training in this budget? Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
I can explain that management of the facility has been working with the corrections officers, so hopefully they have identified a manner in which the training can be delivered most effectively, which is better for both the management and staff. We are aware of this issue. Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you. The Minister is aware of this issue. I am asking the Minister how he is addressing this issue, departmental resources. I will be specific. With the elimination of a dedicated rec officer, and now the expectation that all corrections officers will perform recreational programming at the facility, what training resources had been allocated to ensure officers are trained to offer recreational programming to all offenders? I am not talking about supervising a basketball game. I am talking about the same level of service that they receive from dedicated recreation program officers at the facility who are now gone. What training is in place to ensure that all corrections officers can deliver that programming? Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Goldney
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There has been a redesign of that program. The training provided to corrections officers is to ensure the safety and well-being of all of the offenders. We are very confident that we have adequate training in place. We have encountered some resistance to this shift, in part because of this misunderstanding that we are imposing new duties and new requirements on corrections officers. The reality is that we are not asking corrections officers when they are performing that role of supervising inmates during the recreational activity to do anything like serve as their personal trainer or their activity coordinator. They are there to ensure the security and safety of inmates during those activities. We do think we built awareness, understanding, and appreciation of that shift, and that adequate training is in place. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. What recreational programming was being provided by the recreational program officer? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Goldney
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The recreational program officer did not just supervision of the inmates, but would organize often some activities akin to intramurals. Those really are no longer available, largely because the shift in the inmate population requiring greater security and less frequent contact, so a decision was made that it really didn't make operational sense to continue to facilitate and encourage those kinds of activities. Hence, the shift that we have seen. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is the first that I have been aware of a shift in security requirements at the facility. Can I get some clarification on that? Are we elevating the security requirements at the facility as a result of changes to the Corrections Act, changes to policies? What exactly is the source of the shift? Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
I think the change has been driven by the change of the composition of the inmate population, but I will let Mr. Goldney expand on that.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Goldney
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will apologize in advance for speaking in generalities, because we are somewhat constrained when we get into the operational detailing of security requirements, but the Minister is quite right. There has been an evolution in our inmate population where we do see with more frequency the requirement for things like no-contact orders. We have seen a dramatic increase, as have many other jurisdictions, in the percentage of our inmates who are on remand. Many of them might have co-accused or other reasons for not being allowed contact with other inmates, and that is part of the shift that we have seen. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters