STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND JUSTICE Hansard Verbatim Report No. 45 — June 17, 2020 Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Twenty-Eighth Legislature STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND JUSTICE Mr. Greg Lawrence, Chair Moose Jaw Wakamow Mr. Buckley Belanger, Deputy Chair Athabasca Mr. Dan D’Autremont Cannington Mr. Ken Francis Kindersley Mr. Delbert Kirsch Batoche Ms. Laura Ross Regina Rochdale Ms. Nicole Sarauer Regina Douglas Park Published under the authority of The Hon. Mark Docherty, Speaker STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND JUSTICE 705 June 17, 2020 [The committee met at 15:30.] First Nations cultural programming at these facilities to take place year-round. The Chair: — Welcome back, everybody. Good afternoon. This afternoon and evening, the committee will be considering the In partnership with our colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and estimates for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and Attorney General, we will continue to implement the gang Ministry of Corrections and Policing. The estimates under violence reduction strategy. In 2020-21 a further 1.8 million in consideration today include vote 73, Corrections and Policing; federal funding will be devoted to this work. This will include vote 91, Integrated Justice Services; and vote 3, Justice and the opening of another dedicated substance abuse treatment unit Attorney General. This afternoon for committee members we in one of our adult secure custody facilities. have Mr. Kirsch; Mr. D’Autremont; Ms. Ross; our member from Kindersley, Mr. Francis; and Ms. Sarauer. We will also continue to make significant investments in our police services. This year we will provide 8.8 million in General Revenue Fund additional funding to the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Corrections and Policing Police]. This money will support important initiatives such as the Vote 73 First Nations policing program. Through this funding, the First Nations policing program will add an additional six officers to Subvote (CP01) First Nations communities across the province. This funding will also provide for contractual increases to the RCMP. The Chair: — Minister, do you have any opening remarks? The Ministry of Corrections and Policing plays a vital role in our Hon. Ms. Tell: — I do, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. That’s it; I’m province. We have accomplished much in the last year and will done. I am pleased to be here today to provide highlights of the continue to work with our partners in policing and the wider Ministry of Corrections and Policing’s 2020-21 financial plan community to create positive outcomes for the people of and to answer any questions. I am joined by a number of officials Saskatchewan. Those are the highlights. Now I would be pleased from the ministry today. With me at the table is Dale Larsen, my to answer any questions about the 2020 plan and budget for the deputy minister of Corrections and Policing. There will be other Ministry of Corrections and Policing. Thank you. ministry officials to introduce or that will be speaking today, and I ask that all of them introduce themselves as they approach the The Chair: — We will now begin our consideration of vote 73, mike. Corrections and Policing, central management and services, subvote (CP01). And it is now time for questions. Ms. Sarauer. This budget aligns with our government’s goals of keeping Saskatchewan strong and supporting the people of this province Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you. And thank you, Minister, for your through the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the Ministry of opening remarks. I have a few questions about some of the Corrections and Policing budget has increased to $419 million, increases that you had alluded to in your opening remarks. The an increase of $14.6 million or approximately 3.5 per cent. first one, there is an increase of just over $5 million in the custody Custody, supervision, rehabilitation services has increased by service allocation. Can you explain where that money is going? approximately $5 million from last year to over 186 million this year. Policing and community safety services has increased by Ms. Gudmundson: — Mindy Gudmundson. For the custody, over $9 million to nearly $230 million this year. supervision, and rehabilitation subvote increased by $5.105 million, 2.424 million is for cost-of-living salary I will now highlight some areas of importance in this year’s adjustments; 1.75 million is an increase for the staffing and budget. Our infrastructure investments will increase by nearly operating of temporary structures at Regina Correctional Centre $12 million this year, bringing us to a total of over $20 million. and Saskatoon Correctional Centre; 391,000 increase for the This funding will be used to make improvements in our custody gang violence reduction strategy; $288,000 increase to provide facilities. One of the most significant projects we will be mental health training to correctional officers; $222,000 increase undertaking this year is a 427-bed unit expansion at the was to transfer some policy positions from the integrated justice Saskatoon Correctional Centre. services vote; $114,000 increase to correct a budget error from ’19-20 related to electronic monitoring coverage; $59,000 We will also be opening temporary 44-bed units in Regina and increase to transfer positions from the central management and Saskatoon to create additional flexibility to manage the services subvote; $8,000 increase for cost-of-living salary corrections population during the pandemic. adjustments for community-based organizations. Saskatoon Correctional Centre will also see the replacement of And this is offset by $151,000 decrease transferred to urban camp as well as major renovations to the admitting area of accommodation services in the integrated justice services the facility. We will also be repairing and upgrading our existing subvote to centralize payment of the new phone system. infrastructure to ensure it remains secure. This will include 6.85 million for the replacement of locks, fencing, and the Ms. Sarauer: — Sorry, can you provide some more detail as to installation of contraband reduction equipment. this new phone system? To ensure we are providing offenders with the programming that Ms. Gudmundson: — So the new phone system was installed they need, we will be expanding our cultural lodge program to through the Ministry of Central Services. Instead of each four additional facilities throughout the province. This will allow program area now was responsible for their SaskTel bill every 706 Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice Committee June 17, 2020 month, this is now going to be paid through the accommodation Ms. Scriver: — So this year we want to do train the trainers and services allocation of integrated justice services. It’s basically an start implementing, and next year continue on with the addition to their rental charges to Central Services. implementation. Ms. Sarauer: — This is for in the facilities, in the custody Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you. I do have some questions about facilities? these temporary units in Regina and Saskatoon. I’m guessing, Ms. Scriver, you might be answering these as well, so I’ll try and Ms. Gudmundson: — Throughout all offices, facilities, yes. stick to yours. I’m not saying you have to answer them, but I’m just trying to limit movement for everyone as much as possible Ms. Sarauer: — Okay. even though it’s really difficult. But could you provide some more detail about these temporary 44 beds, these 44-bed units in Ms. Gudmundson: — So you’ll see this continuously Regina and Saskatoon? throughout when we’re talking about each one. There’s going to be a decrease as we centralize all the payments from each Ms. Scriver: — They are temporary structures at this point. allocation into one area. There are 44 beds. There is also a recreational dorm building attached to these areas. These dorms were constructed as a Ms. Sarauer: — Okay. What about the mental health training for mitigation strategy for COVID and to ensure that we have the officers you had mentioned? Can you provide some more detail social distancing that’s required within the correctional facilities. about that? So this will also offer us flex space to manage the offender population. Ms. Scriver: — Heather Scriver, ADM [assistant deputy minister] for custody services. So we were allocated $288,000 to They are to be up and running July now, and so this is going to provide mental health training for our front-line correctional help us go forward in dealing with the pandemic for waves two officers. This is something that we have been putting forward as and waves three if that does come to fruition. a need for our front-line staff. It’s a two-year period that will give staff training to work in these critical situations that they’re Ms. Sarauer: — So they’re not running right now? They’re in dealing with every day. the process of being constructed? So the investment follows leadership by the government and Ms. Scriver: — Absolutely, yes. other front-line areas to support the mental health of its workers. Last year’s initiatives had began in the Advanced Education for Ms. Sarauer: — What level of security are these units intended post-secondary staff and through the Health Authority, and funds to house? were committed to Saskatchewan paramedics and first responders. And we determined that there was a need for our staff Ms. Scriver: — Well these will be . I don’t want to say they’re as well in that. We recognize that working in correctional going to be fortified, but they will be modified to address the institutions is a high-stress environment, and through their work, profile of the offenders that do come into our facilities. Because corrections officers have a higher degree of probability to be they are temporary trailers, they would be more of our low-risk exposed to situations that may cause post-traumatic stress offenders.