Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Madam Chair. The analysis that we’ve done shows that we could increase as much as 11 inmates over a year period and the cost of that is projected to be around $53,000, which includes all the costs that would be coming with that, food, time, staff. We don’t see it as a significant cost, but we also don’t anticipate that kind of hit during this fiscal year. We’re halfway through this fiscal year, or almost halfway through this fiscal year, and the provisions of Bill C-10 haven’t come into effect yet, so we’re not affected yet. When they do, they will take some time to get through the...

Like I said, Public Works and Services will absolutely work with the department and the authority. I do understand that there is a barrier-free bathroom downstairs, which is completely accessible by elevator, so the person can get to an accessible bathroom on the downstairs floor, but as far as that bathroom, we will work with the Minister and the authority.

Mr. Speaker, June 10 to 16, 2012, has been designated National Public Service Week. This week provides the opportunity for Canadians to celebrate the work, accomplishments and contributions of public service employees. This year’s theme is “Celebrating our Commitments!”

Everyone in this Chamber has witnessed the remarkable dedication of public service employees and can attest to their commitment to serving the people of the Northwest Territories and to implementing our vision of Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners. On Wednesday the Premier’s Awards for Excellence...

The program content and, therefore, the design is actually a responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services, who is responsible for the program. I’m not sure if the department is going to be going into the community to talk about the program content, but I will certainly talk to the Minister of Health and Social Services about what their plans are. Technically the department will be meeting with the builders who are building it based on a design.

I imagine it’s going to be in the next week or two, and as soon as we have that information and a decision is made, it will be posted on-line and be available for everybody to see, but I will absolutely let the Member know as soon as I know.

Thank you. I don’t believe we do. I think now that it’s posted, I think that will become standard practice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I have directed the department to post it on-line the same time we post the current and the new UNW, NWTTA and senior management, do them all at the same time, which should be done as soon as we have ratified the final agreement, the UNW Collective Agreement. So that should be really soon.

No, we won’t be posting individuals’ salaries. That would be inappropriate and against the conflict of information. But that would be consistent with what we do for all employees. We don’t tell anybody what Jane or John Doe in any other profession makes, so why would we do that for our senior...

I don’t know off the top of my head, but I’ll talk with the Minister of Education later today and hopefully we’ll be able to provide the Member with some additional information that will help those individuals. Thank you.

We’ve heard the stories as well. They’re horrible, obviously. I’m not sure that it is the Department of Justice, solely, that would be responsible for that and, like I said before, I will work with my colleague with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, but we’ll certainly also discuss it at Cabinet level and see if there’s anything that can be done, or which department would be the responsible department, or what would be the responsible organization to help.

Mr. Speaker, the work the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is doing in the Northwest Territories and across Canada is a critical step in the healing process for people suffering from the abuse and trauma of residential schools. Our government is working with them to support our people and our communities.

Far too often, people who have been through residential school have ended up in front of our community justice committees, our courtrooms or ultimately in our correctional facilities. While many people in communities have shared their experiences during the Inuvik national event or in...