Louis Sebert

As I mentioned, we received 1,160 responses to our online survey. Anybody from across the Northwest Territories or, in fact, from outside the Territories, if they wished, could participate. In addition, we did write to Aboriginal organizations seeking their input. We only have a limited amount of time, as we all know, as the federal legislation will be in force starting July 1st next year. We visited a cross-section of communities, admittedly not every community. Between the visits to the community and the many submissions made online, I think we did receive a good cross-section of opinion...

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...

Mr. Speaker, having a clear, consistent, and predictable approach to how the Government of the Northwest Territories manages the land it is responsible for is important to all land users and stakeholders in the territory. It is also important that the people we serve understand how land in the NWT is administered and that we continually evaluate opportunities and issues associated with various types of land tenure.

Mr. Speaker, to help address one of these issues, that of equity leases, the Department of Lands revised the Land Pricing Policy, which had not seen substantial amendments since it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Members. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this motion this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I would be the first to admit that I could do a better job as Minister. As a new Minister and a new MLA like many of us, with no previous experience in this government, I have faced a steep learning curve, and there is still plenty of room for further learning and improvement.

I also want to make it clear that I have no interest in evading responsibility for my actions and my performance as a Minister. Democracy and accountability are inseparable, Mr. Speaker. I...

No, I wasn't contemplating meeting personally with the inmates, although I have met with many of them before in my previous life. I think what's important is that the inmates and the Members of this House know that we are treating this matter very, very seriously. I have directed the department to respond to each of these letters without delay, and, in fact, the warden has already started to have direct conversations with the inmates who have raised the concerns set out in their letters.

There may not be a dedicated ERT team out at NSCC. There may be ERT-specific teams in larger institutions. I am not certain. I do know, however, that all correctional staff are given training on how to cool down difficult situations so that they can be safe as can be the inmates at the institutions.