Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker -- there we go. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the number of inmates at NSCC with respect to its overall capacity. The correctional centre, at its peak in 2013-2014, of 196 inmates. Its current capacity is 173. When we reviewed the Department of Justice in the main estimates, their current numbers are 141. That's 81 percent capacity. We know the Prime Minister is pursuing bail reform. Do we have enough capacity and resources to ensure the successful operating of our correctional facilities in the Northwest Territories? Thank you. Safe. Safe.
Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are currently -- as of yesterday, we're at 88 percent, and I am happy to provide a -– or at 80 percent capacity. I am happy to provide an update today. So we've had -- yeah, at this time we feel we have capacity. There are a couple of things that are going on. There is some security changes that are being made to the facility in Hay River which will allow them to take a little bit higher-rated offender which will expand a little bit on the capacity. And as we move forward, currently the capacity load within the North Slave Correctional Centre is still at a manageable state. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. My concern is, again, about safety, Mr. Speaker, but it's also about resourcing. If correctional officers are forced to do overtime shifts and things like that, it can drive huge costs. The auditor general has already found this in our facilities, also in Nunavut's facilities, which have similar challenges.
Mr. Speaker, if we're changing SMCC -- that's a therapeutic campus. That's a big part of their operating -- how is that going to impact the therapeutic campus in Hay River -- or in that facility? Thank you.
So the changes to the therapeutic campus in Hay River will just allow another level of offender to be able to participate in the programming that is currently available in that facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So when those changes are made to the facility, how many more inmates will they be able to take on? There's 14 people there. That was what we heard in the main estimates. So once the changes are made, how many more higher security classified inmates will be able to be housed at SMCC? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this change to the security will not change the overall capacity of the facility. That number will remain the same. The change will allow a different level of inmate to be housed in the facility and participate in the programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
