Caroline Wawzonek

Yes. Again, I don't know that the Department of Justice has right now, on track, that specific information, and it may well be that it's held by the RCMP. However, again, what I can do is at least ensure that that question is transmitted to the RCMP directly and see that they can follow up.

As I mentioned, the RCMP does have regular updates they provide to communities, and it's a good opportunity to ensure that, when they are doing that, that they are providing updates to the extent that they have the information about Liquor Act violations, Liquor Act prohibitions, since that certainly has...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is always an ongoing dialogue between the Department of Justice and the RCMP, and this dialogue has been particularly keen in the last couple of months. There has been a lot of attention paid to the situation of bootlegging and illicit drug activity across borders. That dialogue continues. Mr. Speaker, I know that, later this session, I expect to be speaking to the police and priorities and would continue to encourage every community to develop their own community police priorities which can also then be a direct link into the activities of the RCMP in their...

We have three facilities, four if you include the youth facility, separate from the NSCC, and I would certainly commit to taking a look at the mental health resources available specific to corrections workers across all of those facilities. Thank you.

I have no doubt that there is some burn-out. The correctional facilities across Canada right now, many of them have actually been struck quite significantly by COVID-19. We have been fortunate in the Northwest Territories to not be in that situation, but it is not for lack of tremendous effort put in by the correctional facility staff to undertake their work in a very difficult environment. We are aware that they always work in a challenging environment, and they are working in a particularly challenging environment right now with COVID-19. There are additional requirements for hygiene and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 117-19(2): Response to Affirmative Action Policy"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 171-19(2): Daylight Savings Time"; and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 190-19(2): Lack of Enforcement in Illegal Drug Trade." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will take a moment first to just remind all GNWT employees there are quite a number of measures that have been made available to staff for mental wellness. They are available under the "My HR" website. There have been extensive changes made to increase and enhance what is available for all employees, including correctional services employees. Prior to COVID-19, there were efforts under way already between human resources and corrections to start working together to really identify the fact that correction services is a challenged environment for employees and to try to find some solutions...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point, there is no indication that additional staff are necessary. What we have been doing, though, is certainly working with human resources in the correctional facilities to ensure that all staff are available to be present. The information I have is that, so far, we have had no difficulty in maintaining the services that are required in the correctional facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 5, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2020-2021, be read for the second time. This bill makes interim appropriations for operation expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, anyone who is following the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer and who is returning from international travel should be working from home right now. Beyond that, anyone who has concerns or needs, such as childcare, resulting from the current situation ought to be speaking to their supervisor. All departments, I am sure, I am confident, are working closely and working with human resources to support their people right now in whatever circumstances they might find themselves, whether it's because they've returned from international travel or if they are needing to care for...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 5, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2020-2021, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.