Louis Sebert

Certainly, Mr. Speaker, we are working with other departments to ensure that the energy future for the Northwest Territories will be a cleaner one. We are in the process of developing a 20-year strategic plan that will focus on addressing such issues as cleaner energy, ensuring reliability, and supporting economic development in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not entirely sure if I understand the question. If TerraX proceeded on its own and had its own power plant, I suppose that would be one thing. On the other hand, the development of this mine or any other mine in this area may provide opportunities to the Power Corporation. Thank you.

I have not had direct contact with TerraX, although I did have the opportunity to attend a presentation that they gave in Yellowknife a year or two ago. I think it is a little uncertain at this stage the amount of power that they will require. Certainly, we would like to assist them. It may be necessary to increase our capacity.

Mr. Speaker, I will bring these concerns to the board, and work with them on a continuing basis so that we can improve the Power Corporation. We do wish to keep rates low. The rates, of course, are set by the Public Utilities Board, an independent arm completely separate from government. Northland Utilities and the Power Corporation are different corporations with different concerns. All I can say is that we are working to keep rates as low as possible, and I am in constant contact with members of the board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The nature of this Crown corporation has changed over the years. Many of its activities, particularly in the area of energy conservation and the more experimental projects, are now shared with other departments. So a new board has been put in place and is looking at these types of issues of management as we move forward. It's a question of added value, Mr. Speaker. The old board was quite expensive. Keeping it in place would have led to a higher rate increase than the one that's anticipated. The new board of directors has a diverse education and background, and I am confident in them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Guthrie House is a therapeutic community located on the grounds of the Nanaimo Correctional Centre in Nanaimo, British Columbia. That is a medium-security custody facility. It is a provincial institution, so I assume that it deals with inmates doing less than two years. Guthrie House is separate from the main jail, so the prisoners, who are called residents, actually, should they be accepted into the program, stay within that portion of the institution. They don't mix with the other prisoners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that two recreation officer positions are being converted into correction officer positions. This allows for greater interaction with the correction officers and inmate in a different and more relaxed environment. Corrections officers from each of the pods provide supervision at recreation activities as part of their regular duties. I understand that that would include as follows: each pod has access to a gymnasium daily; inmates have access to the visiting room/multipurpose room outside of the pods on a daily basis; and inmates continue to have access to exercise equipment...

Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to the individual programs that corrections officers might take, but I believe that they are up to a Canadian standard. Clearly, ongoing training is required. I understand that there has been no cut in the training program.

I am not certain, Mr. Speaker, of any formal process. Clearly, if there were human rights violations or serious problems of that type, concern could be made to human rights. Legal counsel could be contacted and they could make their concerns known to me.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. We are hoping that area that the Member opposite spoke of can be soon reopened. We originally went out to contractors to provide some more security. Unfortunately, the bids came in at an amount way above the amount expected. We do, however, expect to have that rectified by the end of the year.

The facility does have three traditional areas for the delivery of programs to inmates; one located inside the facility and the other two outdoors within the secure perimeter. These areas are used for smudging, one-on-one counselling, and sharing circles. At present, unfortunately, the...