July 29, 1986 ALBERTA HANSARD 833 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA custody and open custody. Not knowing the number of alleged perpetrators that may be before the courts and the particular disposition, it's difficult to tell from one time to Title: Tuesday, July 29, 1986 2:30 p.m. another whether the secure custody will be a bit more populated at one time than the open custody. There's also a complication which I addressed during [The House met at 2:30 p.m.] my estimates the other night. It requires the judiciary's involvement to move a young offender from one level of custody to another rather than through the administrative PRAYERS system that's prevalent in the adult population. We've addressed this issue with the federal Solicitor General, requesting that he check this particular instance with other [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] provinces to find out their experience and initiate an amend• ment to the Act if at all possible. Also at the time of estimates, I indicated that there is a young offender centre head: INTRODUCTION OF BILLS being constructed in Edmonton and one in Calgary, both in excess of 100 beds, which will certainly alleviate any Bill 21 perceived problems. Petroleum Marketing Statutes Amendment Act, 1986 MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, the minister is aware that DR. WEBBER: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce Bill there has been an increase in young offenders, longer 21, the Petroleum Marketing Statutes Amendment Act, 1986. sentences, and more people. I don't think we can build This Act amends the Mines and Minerals Act and the enough buildings. Petroleum Marketing Act to put into effect the Alberta My supplementary question is: how is the minister Petroleum Marketing Commission's new role under crude monitoring the situation to ensure that the best interests of oil deregulation as agreed to in the western energy accord, these young offenders and the public are served by the use specifically referring to section I.7 of that accord. of automatic, temporary releases to deal with overcrowding? [Leave granted; Bill 21 read a first time] MR. ROSTAD: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. leader was in the House some weeks ago, I gave actual numbers of young Bill 22 offenders that are held in custody in relation to the number Petroleum Incentives Program who are at large. Not having the specifics, it was approx• Amendment Act, 1986 imately 500 out of a population in excess of 3,000 that are actually in custody. DR. WEBBER: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce Bill Again, if I may relate to the Act, the temporary release 22, the Petroleum Incentives Program Amendment Act, feature is for a period of 15 days only. In the interest of 1986. the young offenders who are capable of being on temporary As part of the royalty adjustments and royalty incentives release, our department has initiated a program and has had announced by the Alberta government in June 1985 after this program for some time, whereby we make the 15 days the signing of the western energy accord, it was decided back-to-back. to terminate the Alberta petroleum incentives program on March 31, 1986, some nine months prior to the termination MR. MARTIN: That's precisely the problem we're talking date indicated in the September 1981 energy agreement and about, Mr. Speaker. I've been told of cases in which to grandfather certain activities to December 31, 1986. This teenagers who had been stabilized in special programs were Bill is required to establish the termination date and the yanked out before the end of the school year simply because grandfathering provisions. they had finished one-third of their sentence. My question is this: what steps is the minister taking to ensure that this [Leave granted; Bill 22 read a first time] policy is not stuck to in some mindless way that would hurt the young offender? head: ORAL QUESTION PERIOD MR. ROSTAD: Mr. Speaker, we always have the interests of the young offender at heart. Again I point out to the Young Offenders' Programs hon. leader that we have a number of young offenders out MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct the first on the temporary release program. We have not yanked, question to the Solicitor General. My question is: can the as referred to, young offenders out of educational programs Solicitor General confirm that the real reason for the recent on to temporary release at any time. decision of the minister's department that there will be automatic release of young offenders after they have served MR. MARTIN: That is simply not the truth, Mr. Speaker. one-third of their sentence has a lot more to do with [interjections] If you don't like the truth, that's too bad. overcrowding of facilities than with the rehabilitation of According to a memo I have, the correctional services young people? division circulated a legal opinion that government residential centres and group homes don't have to be licensed under MR. ROSTAD: Mr. Speaker, under the Young Offenders the Social Care Facilities Licensing Act. My question to Act the disposition of the young offender is under the control the minister: in the absence of such basic standards, how of the judiciary. We have two levels of custody: secure is the department ensuring that the rights of children to 834 ALBERTA HANSARD July 29, 1986 proper physical conditions are being protected in these MR. MARTIN: A supplementary question to the Treasurer. overcrowded situations? Could the Treasurer indicate what other measures the government is considering to reduce the deficit besides higher MR. ROSTAD: Mr. Speaker, the allegations that the young medicare premiums? Specifically, are we looking at income offender is not being adequately cared for in the group tax hikes in '87, and specifically, are we looking at a sales homes is a totally erroneous statement. The group homes tax? are very adequate and are monitored constantly by the Solicitor General's departmental staff. In no way is a young MR. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see that the offender yanked from these programs unless the young opposition finally is concerned with the deficit. I noticed offender has breached the conditions on which he is out earlier in this session that they introduced a Bill to roll on temporary release, which is then of course required. back the income tax increase, which could only result in an increased deficit. What kind of responsibility is that, MR. CHUMIR: Can the minister assure the House that Mr. Speaker? younger children won't be housed with hardened older youths so as to minimize the recurrence of the recent situation at MR. MARTIN: Whenever they don't want to answer the the Strathmore detention centre in which an 18-year-old questions, they try to give some right-wing rhetoric. By youth sexually assaulted a 14-year-old youth? not answering the question, I think all Albertans will expect the worst. MR. ROSTAD: Mr. Speaker, the safety and educational The IPAC report highlights that our revenue problem is concerns of the inmates are foremost in the plans as to very much related to our energy policy. My question is where these particular young offenders are placed. It is this: will the Treasurer agree to do a study on a national unfortunate that that particular incident arose. It was not floor price of between $18 and $22 U.S. with particular from an undue mixing. There are people who have these reference to our provincial revenues, which you will make propensities in all walks of life. We try to monitor those; public before announcing any new taxation measures? unfortunately, some of them do occur. MR. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, I know that the people of Alberta recognize the good management ability of this Fiscal Policies government. [interjections] No, that's a serious statement. In that context they know that this government is considering MR. MARTIN: I'd like to direct my second question to all alternatives on the fiscal side. We have a proven record the straightforward, not shifty Provincial Treasurer, and I'll of management of the resources of this province, and our get some straightforward answers. record will continue through this difficult period. We know Mr. Speaker, last week I referred to an IPAC discussion that we can bet on the future of this province. We're paper that was released on July 16. On page 8 of that optimistic; we're not pessimistic. We have considered all document they estimate that provincial energy revenues will elements, and all elements of the fiscal plan will be taken decline about 60 percent or $3.5 billion by 1987. My into account when we strike the 1987 budget. question: is the Treasurer floating trial balloons about increased taxes because he has information that this estimate of the MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, to the minister. Since the 60 percent drop is correct, or is he still sticking to his cornerstone of good management is an accurate budget, will budget prediction of a one-third drop? the Treasurer explain to the Legislature why he is willing to ride out the next 9 months on a budget that is out of MR. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, we are slightly more sync with the economic realities of the day instead of acting optimistic than the report which has been cited. Considering immediately to redress the problem? all the elements of the revenue flows to the province from resource revenue, including land sales and other royalties, MR. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, if the Member for Wes- we believe that the one-third assumption is as accurate as tlock-Sturgeon is suggesting that we make dramatic cuts in any at the present time.