Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. This particular subject, the two detachments that we’ve committed and we continue to commit ourselves to as the GNWT, we provide policing already to Wrigley and Gameti, policing out of Simpson. To deal with Wrigley and Gameti is based out of Yellowknife, working closely with Behchoko detachment.

When it comes to a detachment, of course it’s a federal responsibility. At the same time I did address that with two federal Ministers last week -- Minister of Justice and Minister of Public Safety -- the importance and how critical it is to have these two detachments as they’ve...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As you know, the Student Financial Assistance Program is one of the greatest benefits of all throughout Canada. There is other funding available through DIAND throughout Canada for First Nations students. Dene and Inuit students can apply for USEP funding through that department. That is additional funding on top of the SFA that’s out there.

The Member is referring to upgrading. We currently don’t provide funding for upgrading, but we provide funding for access programs through Aurora College and other institutions, as long as there’s an access program, such as access to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide an update to the Legislative Assembly on Not Us, the Government of the Northwest Territories anti-drug campaign.

Addictions and the crimes they lead to have serious life consequences. This government has a focus on prevention by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles, and the role of personal and family responsibility. The Not Us campaign is unique. It’s community-based, so it’s different everywhere. We don’t tell people how it’s going to be. They tell us how it’s going to be. There’s no right or wrong way to fight addictions in your community. It’s...

Mr. Chairman, the policing services have been provided from out of Fort McPherson. I need to get more detailed information as to the specifics of where it is now. I will get that to the Member.

Mr. Chairman, this particular issue has been brought to my federal/provincial/territorial colleagues just last week. I did raise communities without detachments. We do have them in the Northwest Territories. Again, pressuring the federal government of the importance of it. We also talked about First Nations policing policy as well. It is all interrelated to the communities without detachments. We are...

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I, too, would like to see more money. The Member is referring to millions that should be going to the communities. I do agree with that. If we can develop preventative measurements, preventive programs, that is what our vision is, I do believe, with the Members and also our department. That is the very reason why we are doing an overall review. With the outcome of the review, of course, it will take some investment to make some changes.

We want to have community members involved as well. We do have coordinators and community justice committees that are in some of the...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have Bronwyn Watters, the deputy minister of Justice.

I’m sure that will be part of the discussion, because there will be a wide range of discussions with the public as well. Any input from the Members will be greatly appreciated, and also the Northwest Territories. If we make changes, it has to benefit the Northwest Territories as well. Definitely this is an area that I’m excited about and I’m looking forward to those changes as well.

I must say that we’re very proud of the highest aboriginal graduates in the country in the Northwest Territories. We should be proud of that. The school system, we are currently developing an action plan to deal with that through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. We’ve highlighted the core needs of the community. We’ve visited a Sahtu community already. We’re visiting all regions. They’re providing us solutions that are coming from the communities. This is an area we are very serious about.

Also, at the same time, we are going through a review of the Student Financial Assistance...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the students that are here. They are fourth-year nursing students from the Yellowknife Campus of Aurora College Nursing Program. I’ll just name a few of them. Forgive me if I misstate your name. Ashley Crump, Ashley Woytuik, Brittany Marceau-Chenkie, Brittany Jones, Candace Manuel, Frances Sinclair, Gwen Hysert, Hawna Cooper, Leanne Niziol, Malerie Hardisty, Mohamad El Hariri, Natalie Decker, Pearl Martin, Robyn Lavoie, Samantha Digness, Shawn Roper, Soura Munroe-Rosen, Vanessa Vandewater, and Jodi Brennan is the instructor. Thanks for being here...

Mr. Chairman, with the Fort Smith, we are in planning stages but we are in the process of developing a schematic design that will be available I believe in March. Those are just preliminary works that are in place. But the overall plan is to expedite this process, because we know the female offenders in the facility in Fort Smith is in, of course, poor condition. We have had some escapes in the past. We definitely want to prevent that from happening. That is where it is at, Mr. Chairman. It is in the planning stages. Mahsi.