Kieron Testart

Mr. Speaker, the federal government provides Community Wellness Funding as an on-reserve fund to assist with addictions and mental health issues. Currently, the City of Yellowknife has one of the -- I think it's perhaps the largest population of Indigenous people and the city can't access that funding. Has the Minister brought this issue to his federal counterparts and provincial counterparts and looked for some resolution to see if the City of Yellowknife can start accessing this so we can get safer streets and increase and enhance our preventative treatment programs for people who are...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that comment and that is in line with what my expectations are for some of the strategic decisions we're making around Aurora College. There are more than one post-secondary education institutions or programs in the Northwest Territories however.

My understanding is that Dechinta University has been in discussions with federal officials and federal ministers about investing quite a substantial amount into a facility for their purposes. Does the Minister know of their funding proposal? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, did this comprehensive review take into account any additional security concerns related to the neighbourhoods in my riding of Kam Lake close to the correctional facility? Was there an assessment done on potential security issues related to the close proximity of neighbourhoods with a correctional facility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this morning I spoke of an escape at the North Slave Correctional Centre. Mr. Speaker, what corrective actions have been taken to close the physical gap in security measures at the facility? Those questions are to the Minister of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, has the Minister spoken to frontline staff or personally toured the facility to see their daily experiences and the challenges they face and, if not, will the Minister commit to do that so he gets a good sense of what our peace officers go through in their daily lives?

I'm sure committee and members of the public are looking forward to that fuller answer. I assume this meeting will be in public so the answer will be available to the public, as they would be in this House?

Mr. Speaker, on the morning of August 10th, an individual escaped custody from the North Slave Correctional Centre and almost immediately this information was in the media, sending the community of Yellowknife into a sense of great unease. Through the commendable efforts of the RCMP, the individual was apprehended three days later, on the morning of August 13th.

I applaud the efforts of our officers in “G” Division. They acted with great distinction in resolving this unprecedented incident in a peaceful manner. However, throughout the crisis the response from the Minister of Justice was...

Mr. Speaker, certainly the cost of power is high and that's exactly what we're talking about, and earlier I was pleased to hear the Minister set a new direction for the board to address this issue. Why are there three hydro rates, Mr. Speaker, and why is Yellowknife being charged the most out of those three? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure the Minister will find these correct once he looks into it, and Fort Smith, his home town, is probably the lowest. Does the Minister know how the Northwest Territories Power Corporation allocates its overhead and admin cost to each rate zone?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Either way, the rates for power generation are far too high in the Northwest Territories. Making the North a more affordable place is an important priority for me and for every Member here. Can the Minister explain what this government is doing and how it's working with the Power Corporation to reduce the high cost of electricity? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.