Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled The Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 7-15(3), Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Annual Report, 2002-2003. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always something we could take a look at. About seven years ago, Mr. Speaker -- maybe not that long, five or six years ago -- there was a forum that was empowered to review the Student Financial Assistance program and provide the Minister of the day with a number of recommendations. One of the specific directions they were given was to provide advice on to whom or what sorts of programs should be supported through student financial assistance. They held a number of public hearings and invited people from every community in the Northwest Territories to attend...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can certainly consider putting extra money to support students to access programs into the business plan and take a look at how much support we have for that approach. I am prepared next week, when Mr. Scott is here, to raise the issue with the Minister. I would hope that the federal government would recognize their responsibility and live up to their responsibilities by putting some money into the program to deal with the current demands just from status people and that they would also fund the program so that Metis people could access it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to provide this House with more details about the NWT justice system and in particular how this government works with communities to meet their needs and aspirations.

One of our guiding principles has always been that an effective justice system is one that is accepted by the communities it serves. Community involvement leads to acceptance and a justice system that meets the needs and aspirations of these communities.

The department encourages communities to increase their involvement in the administration of justice through community justice...

Mr. Chairman, I move that subclause 7(3) of Bill 17 be amended by striking out “section 7 of Bill_,” in proposed subsection 1(3) of the Intestate Succession Act and by substituting “section 7 of Bill 17,”.

Mr. Chairman, this motion amends sub-clause 7(3) to correct an internal reference back to Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, in a new transitional provision being added to the Intestate Succession Act. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say how many are in any facility because of addictions problems. I can say that the vast majority of inmates in the Northwest Territories were under the influence of alcohol when the crime was committed. So that alcohol is still the biggest problem that we face. That would tend to indicate that might be the area where addictions would be the biggest issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the amendments are very clear and they don’t get into the issues that the Member is speaking about. I think what we are doing is we are correcting a situation that has been clearly seen by the courts to be discriminatory in Canada under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a government we have a responsibility to respect the laws of Canada and make sure that our laws are respectful and meet the test of the Charter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the changes in the correctional system that we’re trying to implement as we’ve moved into the new facility is a new approach, more of a case management approach where we have workers who work with individuals who try and assess what their problems might be and what their specific needs might be. The department does purchase space and programming from the Salvation Army. It’s an average of 10 beds a day to assist people making the transition from being in jail to being free again. The programming there is life skills and substance abuse programming to try and deal...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We had a good part of this debate in the 14th Assembly and the process was started there with the changing of some laws in recognition of court decisions. What we’re doing now is continuing on with that process. It was a commitment that was made in the Assembly at that time that we would continue to do it. So it’s necessary that we change our laws. They are discriminatory right now. We should proceed with them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, it’s really tough to find one area that is the most important. If people don’t have economic opportunity, obviously their children are not going to enjoy the same sort of security that others would. You don’t have economic opportunity if you don’t have an education. You don’t tend to be as healthy if you don’t have an educated. There are a whole range of issues that we need to deal with in our society and we need to make sure that we have healthy people making healthy choices in healthy communities if we want to make sure that we deal with this. So we have a real...