Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 3, Electronic Transactions Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that I think we need to focus on those individuals starting in the centre right now. What the Member is alluding to is outside the centre. Outside the centre, of course, there is an establishment in Hay River that those individuals can utilize once they leave the facility. Once they leave the facility, Mr. Speaker, actually before they leave the facility, we want them to be integrated back into the community. The program that we deliver consists of on-the-land program, as well, which we do in the Sahtu region. It has been very successful. We will continue delivery...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are fully aware of the statement that was made by Judge Vertes. It is the root cause of issues that we are dealing with. It is very challenging on a day-to-day basis. As Vertes indicated, it has to come from the grassroots people, the politicians and also the public. It is not just us sitting here making decisions; it has to be the general public as well that we need to work together.

We have to come up with solutions. We have already developed plans on our initiative through the Justice department. We deliver various aspects of program delivery at the corrections. We...

I think we’re at a point where there have been identified partnerships in the communities. We need to involve those partners, the potential partners that are out there. We need to work together. We need to have this as an effective tool so we can reach out to those victims as well. So those are the initiatives through the Justice department that we’ll continue to pursue to reach out to the 33 communities.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Within our Justice department we’ve developed some communication tools so that we can reach out to the communities. We’ve also, of course, highlighted here in the Legislative Assembly and want to broadcast throughout the Northwest Territories as well. People are aware that this Victim Notification Program is out there. As the Member indicated and I stated in the House, there have been three applicants to date. I’m sure we’ll see more once we roll out the program as well as the communication plan.

Mr. Speaker, we have to look at all areas of the planning process. We are talking about 16 students in the community of Trout Lake; we have the capacity in the facility for 33 students. Those are the discussions that we need to have with the superintendents, the DECs. Mr. Speaker, capital planning will be up and coming before us and those are the discussions that we will definitely have. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Every year we go through this capital planning process and this year, again, we will be planning for next year’s capital project. Those types of discussion will be considered in due time. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

With any pilot project that’s been undertaken in the past we’ve always reviewed the program, how successful it’s been or if there are areas for improvement, and then taken into consideration as we move forward if we need to reintegrate that into our business planning cycle. If it’s been successful, let’s look at it; if not, then there’s room for improvement. This is an area that has been earmarked for discussion. As a pilot project, we’ve done the pilot project for a year and we’re here now. It’s sunsetting but, as the Member is indicating, maybe the program should be reviewed. As I stated...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We just went through the budget process and it’s been approved by this Assembly. Every year we go through the business planning cycle. I’m sure this Food First Program will be before us again once we go through the process.

I must highlight that there are programs available as well, as I indicated, on the Healthy Food for Learning. There is upwards of $380,000 that’s been dispersed to all schools. Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative to focus on absenteeism and attendance, this is an area that’s been discussed as well. We have over $30,000 in that respect. There is...