Robert Hawkins

Well, again, I state that I’m pleased that it’s going to a training group. I didn’t realize we had so many treatment centres that we had to get rid of one, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to know what the total cost has been for the number of years since we had it on the books. What was the total cost to maintain that facility while it’s been empty?

My questions shouldn’t be perceived in any way that I’m against the building actually being dusted off and used. I think it’s a real shame that it’s been empty for so long and probably heated forever at an exorbitant rate.

Mr. Speaker, I want to know: will we retain ownership of this building, or has that been given away in this agreement? If it has been given away, what financial gains has the territorial government made?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My position is quite simple. I’d rather not be in the back seat riding along with this issue. I’d rather be in the driver’s seat on this issue.

The Minister did mention some potential amendments. All I’m calling for is some public discussion, maybe an ad in the paper or on the radio saying that we’re looking for feedback from citizens of the Northwest Territories on this issue. Let’s get control of this issue. Let’s get ahead of the bubble. Let’s grab hold of it and make sure we know what people want and put safety first. Would the Minister do that?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just want to seek clarification. Under Inuvik Young Offenders Foundation Issues we have $191,000. I was just trying to get clarification. If the government is proposing to shut that down, I’m curious why they’re spending money on it.

Mr. Chairman, I’m trying to get an understanding as to the overall impact, not to revisit the motion. I’m just trying to get clarity as to what impact that will have. As I understand it, that impact, now that the decision has been made…. Again, I’m not trying to revisit it, but I’m just trying to get a sense of whether there were active positions rolled up in that, and if there were, how many. Again, if there were, where were they located? That’s all. It’s for clarification.

Mr. Chairman, yesterday a motion was put on the floor to delete ten additional court services positions. I’m just trying to do some follow-up as to understanding the impact of that motion.

I’ve been led to believe that motion actually deleted some active positions that already exist, as opposed to some brand-new positions. I’m just trying to get some clarity on whether that is or is not the case. Furthermore, if it actually did, can I get the location of where those positions are?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I always like to do on Friday, I like to make a special mention of the fact that it’s Red Friday so we can support our troops.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to children of all ages. But those aged between four and nine years old are currently the most vulnerable. Canadian data shows that the death rate from car crashes has dropped in all other age groups, but not for the children between the ages of four and nine. Data also tells us that the majority of Canadian children aged four to nine are riding in seat belts, which puts them at...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to now move a committee motion. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice immediately undertake a facility review that will outline the present condition of the existing correctional facilities and future space requirements for the correctional system.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have, in this building, probably the lone experience of actually being a former employee of the corrections system. I used to work at the old corrections centre as a guard for a number of years, and I had some experience in many of the areas through administration and whatnot. I know from my experience of working at the centre that a lot of inmates are there due to certain problems, and the reason they’re there a lot of times has to do with alcohol. Then we end up having subsequent problems that fall out of the issue, that continue to go on and spiral.

The point I’m...

Mr. Chairman, there’s no intention to re-debate the motion. I’m just trying to get a sense of what the impact was.