Clik here to view.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:Mr. Speaker, inmates are still abruptly cut off their legitimately prescribed medication and courts are still reluctant to send certain accused individuals to HMP because of this. In his external review of the prison psychiatric services, Dr. Klassen recommended expanding the network of psychiatrists providing services in correctional facilities. The department agreed to develop a rotation of psychiatrists to provide on-site services.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Has this recommendation been implemented?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, first of all, I always find it very troublesome as the Minister of Justice when a member, a politician, comes to this House and questions the independence and integrity of the court system in the Province. I always have great difficulty with that topic getting on the floor of the House of the Assembly.
This is a political environment and all of us should recognize, at least, that the court system in Newfoundland and Labrador is independent of any political bias. They operate totally autonomous to government, and that is how it has to be in order to maintain proper rule and order and ensure the proper application of the law of the land. So, I do take somewhat of an offense to the member continuously chastising the court system in the Province here in a political environment.
She is absolutely right. The report that was done by Dr. Klassen – thank you, I will get it on the follow-up.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre, for a quick question without preamble, please.
MS ROGERS:Okay.
Mr. Speaker, the new Correctional Services Act received assent –
MR. SPEAKER: Without preamble, please.
MS ROGERS:Yes.
The assent on May 31 –
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the member to get to a quick question.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: What is holding up proclaiming the Correctional Services Act?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice for a quick response.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The quick answer to the previous question that I did not get to is that we accepted the Klassen report. We accepted all the recommendations as it pertained to psychological services being provided at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, and we are moving forward with full implementation.