Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated previously that the number of young people who are sentenced to open custody facilities has been reduced by new legislation that has come into place with respect to youth justice. At this time, the populations and the numbers are lower; the census is lower than it has been in the past. Does the Minister not see this as a temporary situation and, if he did see this as a temporary situation, what’s the contingency plan for when those numbers come up again after you’ve dismantled this key piece of infrastructure? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Agreed. Thank you. Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, clause 1.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today I talked about how I perceive the Dene K’onia Young Offenders Facility to have been a very major piece of the youth justice system in the Northwest Territories in helping young people who have come in contact with the legal system, with the court system, to get back on their feet and get reintegrated into their communities. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice what the alternative plan is now for dealing with young offenders who are sentenced in the courts to serve time. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. General comments from Members with respect to the bill. Any general comments? Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, besides the jobs that were created in Hay River from this facility and the community work that the staff was involved in, this facility also formed an integral part of our community. These young people volunteered at Woodland Manor in extended care. You would often see them out pushing wheelchairs for the elderly if they wanted to attend community events or parades. You would see these very young people out there contributing. They grew their own garden; they donated the food that they grew in their garden to the soup kitchen in Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak just to...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Does the committee agree that we ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.