Louis Sebert

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 45, Corrections Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a Thebacha constituent, Andrea Steen.

Yes. I think that I agree with the comment that we can do better. Yes, we're going to be looking at these policies, the review of the GNWT's project assessment function, to look at areas for potential improvements, and I'm sure we can share that as we proceed. We want to hear from committee with their input because, in the end, I think we have the same object. We want to make the system better. Thank you.

As I say, we are always interested in what is going on in other jurisdictions to see if we can improve our methods. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the probation reports here are prepared by probation officers, many of whom are Aboriginal themselves. I don't know whether it's most; it could well be. Again, we are always looking at ways of improving, and we will be looking at the Yukon pilot project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to let the Member know that the Department of Lands is coordinating a GNWT-wide review of the project assessment function to identify areas where we might make improvements and to identify priorities. Also, we are coordinating, the department, a GNWT-wide "lessons learned" exercise on the Tlicho All-Season Road environmental assessment, so we are looking at the past to make sure that we can make improvements on the future. My final statement is one I know will be accepted well by the Member: the GNWT manages its various roles as proponent and regulatory...

I know that in our jurisdiction there is a specific section of a pre-sentence report that refers to factors related to the accused as an Indigenous offender, including the legacy of residential schools and other contributing circumstances. That information, which is important, is actually a section within the pre-sentence report. The attention of the maker of the report, the probation officer, should be drawn to that section if it is applicable. Obviously, we are always looking for better ideas, and I understand that the project in the Yukon, which is a pilot project, has been going on for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure if I clearly heard the question. Maybe I could ask the questioner: are we talking about addressing unauthorized and potential rights-based occupancy? Very well. Obviously, we don't condone the unlawful use of public lands, and we continue to take action regarding unauthorized occupants. We do recognize, however, that we must, of course, respect Aboriginal and treaty rights. We have reached out to Indigenous organizations to begin work to find effective ways to identify potential rights-based cabins. This work is in the early stages and will help the...

Thank you. I frankly don't know if there is or not, but I am advised by Mr. Hagen that he doesn't think there is.

Yes, Mr. Chair, if I could just go through them, there is a geomatics analyst, land administration; geotechnical advisor, land administration; land administrator of land administration; land specialist, land administration; land specialist, regional land administration; and the resource management officer II in resource management. Thank you.

Thank you for the comments. This position is very specific to Lands, and we needed this person so that they could be easily accessible, if I could put it that way. I do understand the Member's concern about the overall direction of the centralization, but this is a position that we felt we very specifically needed for our own needs. I don't think I want to comment about the overall structure and the creation of the ISS department, or whatever it's called. Thank you.