Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on the implementation of the action plan for human resources in the corrections service, which I released last December.

A review began in August and the final report, prepared by corporate human resources, identified 35 items to be considered.

The action plan was prepared in response to this review. To implement this plan, a team was established, including an independent evaluator, human resources and information technology staff, and corrections staff.

I’m pleased to report that of the 35 recommendations we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven’t gotten to that point yet because we aren’t sure, as I said, how much money there’s going to be. When we have that announcement and the provincial, territorial and federal Ministers meet shortly after the budget next week to decide how the money will be apportioned, then we will very quickly move to determine the NWT apportionment. Just as the Northwest Territories is fighting for a portion that is not representative of strictly per capita, we will remember that when we talk about how to spend the money in the Northwest Territories as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we look at all of the young offenders facilities that we have or the spaces that we have for young offenders right now, we’re not anywhere near 50 percent occupancy. It will take some time before we get up to a level where we expect that we would need these facilities again. Whether it’s two years, five years or 10 years, I can’t predict how long it’s going to be before we need more facilities. I would hope that we never need more facilities, but, if we do, then we can deal with that through either the provision of homes for young offenders, which is one...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for young offenders who are sentenced to custody through the courts, there has always been a range of options. One is if they’re sentenced to the secure custody facility here in Yellowknife; it’s available to house them. Typically what happens to offenders who are sentenced to secure custody, they go through that facility into an open custody facility and then move on into either a camp or a residential home. The goal is to try and integrate young offenders back into the community and move them as quickly as possible into a residential setting. What has...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. February 14th to the 18th is Aurora College Week, and this year there is a lot to celebrate. Throughout the week, the college will continue to hold events to celebrate its vital role in post-secondary and adult education and training in the Northwest Territories.

This year there are 412 full-time students attending a variety of programs through Aurora College, including adult basic education, trades and technology programs, and career and professional programs. Graduates of these programs have the opportunity to further their studies at universities...

Yes, Madam Chairperson. I have with me Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation division.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that if there is another opportunity for the staff of that facility to get a job with the government, they could find it. That is one of the reasons that we have the staff retention policy; is to take advantage, or try and make sure that the government takes advantage, of the experience that we have within our staff. I would hope that we will find jobs for them in the not-too-distant future and not necessarily that we would have to wait some time.

In terms of the facility, if there is some department that comes forward with a proposal for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in early days when we knew that we were going to propose the closure of Dene K’onia, I did, in fact, approach other Ministers in the government to ask whether or not there was some way that that facility could be used. I would certainly welcome any opportunity to keep the staff employed as long as they are employed in a program that makes sense for this government to embark on.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the issue and have been aware of it for some time now. There is the process that has been launched. I am going to respect that process so far and watch how it turns out. When you have a grievance that is possibly laid, you have to respect that we have that process set out and have to follow it, so I will be watching how things unfold. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t speak for the Premier personally, but I can speak for the government’s position, and, therefore, that of the Premier and of all the Members of this government, that people are and should be encouraged to use their first language whenever possible.