Work on jail security still underway
Nearly 19 months after an inmate charged with second-degree murder escaped from the North Slave Correctional Centre, work to improve security at the jail has yet to be finished.
SA国际影视传媒淭he improvements that were considered necessary after the escape that took place in 2016 have not yet been completed,SA国际影视传媒� Justice Minister Louis Sebert told the legislative assembly on last Wednesday.
On Aug. 10, 2016, 23-year-old Denecho King broke out of the Yellowknife jail, sparking a three-day police manhunt.
The jailbreak highlighted issues with the fence and inmates were subsequently blocked from using a portion of the yard. This area remains out of bounds.
MLAs approved funds that were proposed in October of 2016 to install security cameras and upgrade the jail's perimeter.
In September, 2017, Sebert said work to improve security at the jail was held up because bids on the fence contract came in over budget.
At the time, Sebert said the jail's perimeter fencing would be finished by mid-October.
The justice minister was unable to provide an update last week when asked for one by Kieron Testart, the MLA for Kam Lake.
SA国际影视传媒淚f the minister has completed the work on the fence, it will be good of him to be able to tell me that today on the floor of the House,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart. SA国际影视传媒淚 understand he can't, and that's a concern for me.SA国际影视传媒�
In an email to Yellowknifer on Tuesday, Justice department spokesperson Sue Glowach stated the perimeter fence project was finished in October 2017, but that this work was SA国际影视传媒渦nrelated to the 2016 escape attempt.SA国际影视传媒�
Glowach stated Justice is still working to prevent future security breaches, and that a solution is expected to be in place by May of this year.
SA国际影视传媒淎s this is a correctional facility including medium and high risk offenders, we do not publicize security details for the safety of inmates, our staff and the public,SA国际影视传媒� she wrote.
Cannabis education is coming says GNWT, but no concrete plan or funding offered
The territorial government plans to educate residents about the responsible use of cannabis ahead of legalization, but has not set aside any money to do so.
Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy said Thursday his department has asked the federal government for $2 million over five years to help fund a public awareness campaign focused primarily, but not exclusively, on the impacts of marijuana on brain development.
However, said Abernethy, Health and Social Services isn't going to wait around for Ottawa to come through with funding before launching its own public education campaign.
The proposed 2018-19 GNWT budget does not include any money for setting up and regulating a legal weed market in the territory, nor does it earmark any funds for public education about safe cannabis consumption.
To date, said Abernethy, not much has been done to spread awareness about the responsible use of cannabis.
He said his department plans to do more SA国际影视传媒渙ver the coming months, up until the time (cannabis) goes live, and obviously after, as well.SA国际影视传媒�
The federal task force on cannabis recommended that public education specifically target young people, parents and vulnerable populations, and that public awareness campaigns begin as soon as possible.
The task force also stated that in jurisdictions where cannabis is sold in the same stores as liquor SA国际影视传媒� which is the plan for NWT SA国际影视传媒� signs should be put up informing customers about the risks of using cannabis and alcohol at the same time.
Abernethy said the government would look into using cannabis education materials available for free on the website of Drug Free Kids Canada, a charity that develops drug education packages for media outlets and families.
Damien Healy, a spokesperson for Health and Social Services, wrote in an email Tuesday that as part of the GNWT's cannabis awareness campaign, materials will be given to students and teachers.
The campaign will use traditional and social media, will build upon previous anti-smoking campaigns, stated Healy.
The federal Liberal government last week proposed putting $62.5 million toward cannabis education over five years.
MLA worried Public Guardian is overloaded
The MLA for Yellowknife Centre is worried about the workload at the Office of the Public Guardian, which oversees the care of adults who are unable to make their own medical decisions.
SA国际影视传媒淚'm really concerned for the staff in the office now because I think they are overwhelmed with the number of cases they are responsible for,SA国际影视传媒� Julie Green told Yellowknifer on Monday.
The Office of the Public Guardian helps family members and close friends become legal guardians of NWT residents over the age of 18 who are unable to care for themselves due to a serious mental illness cognitive disability, brain damage or dementia. The public guardian can also take over care decisions for adults who need assistance, but do not have family or friends who can help.
Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, said Wednesday the public guardian is responsible for the care of 79 residents, and helps family and friends with another 85 people.
SA国际影视传媒淗aving an individual with a caseload in excess of 150 clients is totally unreasonable,SA国际影视传媒� said Green.
Abernethy said his department is currently SA国际影视传媒渞ewriting policiesSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渇ixing the unit itself so that it can get best value for money.SA国际影视传媒�
On Thursday, Green noted that an audit of the Office of the Public Guardian hasn't been done in 20 years. She would like one done annually.
SA国际影视传媒淲e're talking about a very vulnerable population here,SA国际影视传媒� she said on Monday.
SA国际影视传媒淥versight is important to make sure these people who are mostly not able to advocate for themselves are getting the standard of care that we've committed to.SA国际影视传媒�
