Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, what I can state in this House is that there are certain programs through the NWT Housing Corporation that each corporation can access. We’ve discussed this and it came from this Assembly, as well, that we need to deliver those subsidies to those corporations so they can build affordable housing. Yes, we support those teachers, very much so, and we know the students are successful because of those teachers. So we’ll continue to work interdepartmental; ECE, Housing Corporation along with the board operations, as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I did commit to the Member that we will be going to the school. I believe we’re working on a date with the Member to go into the community and also look at the particular school and the complex it is under. Working towards the next capital planning project, I will work with the Member and also the Members at large that this along with other projects, what are the priorities? What should come to us first? Those are the discussions that we need to have, as we do every year with the capital projects process. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have Mark Aitken with me, the director of the legislation division within Justice.

Mr. Speaker, there are processes that we need to follow. As I stated, we have identified funds for technical upgrades and then having somebody, a consultant or departmental staff, going to the community to identify what’s needed and what’s the capacity. Right now, Mr. Speaker, the capacity is 48 percent utilized in the community. We have to look at that as well. Is it a space issue? Is it a building issue? The students, how many students are there? There are 16 students right now, Mr. Speaker. We’re talking about those specific matters and we need to highlight and analyze all those key areas...

Mr. Chair, the purpose of Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, is to amend various statutes of the Northwest Territories for which minor changes are proposed or errors or inconsistencies have been identified.

Each amendment included in the bill had to meet the following criteria:

it must not be controversial;

it must not involve the spending of public funds;

it must not prejudicially affect rights; and

it must not create a new offence or subject a new class of persons to an existing offence.

The departments responsible for the various statutes being amended have reviewed and...

Mahsi. I agree that we are not looking away at that particular issue. Again, it’s a preventive measurement that we need to deal with, myself as the Justice Minister along with the federal law that’s before us. The RCMP “G” Division follows the federal law, as well. So we have to respect the Youth Criminal Justice Act as well that’s before us. Yes, the sooner the better. If we can have a meeting, by all means, let’s do that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Yes, I did commit to the standing committee that I will be working with Mr. McLeod, Municipal and Community Affairs Minister, on this consumer protection, whether it be updates or upgrades to the specific policy. Mahsi.

Mahsi. That can certainly be added to our discussion. Again, it’s under the direction of the “G” Division through their federal legislation laws that they have to follow in dealing with 16-year-old, 15-year-old or 14-year-old individuals that may be drinking with an open bottle. But I can seriously take those into consideration during our discussion with the chief superintendent of the RCMP “G” Division. Mahsi.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

In Lutselk’e we have a dedicated half-time position client services officer. This particular position deals with various cases on the client files. Adding more duty to that individual’s duties may be a challenge to some degree. Another area we can look at is the regional staff being visible in the community as much as possible. They are responsible for Lutselk’e and Fort Res. I can look at that angle, how we can deliver with the resources we have from the regional perspective into the community. I, again, will work closely with the Member on this.