Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice conduct needs-based assessments for all inmates;

and further, that the assessments be conducted in a manner that is timely relative to an inmate's release eligibility;

and furthermore, that the assessments take into account Gladue and other factors such as an inmate's disabilities;

and furthermore, that the department explore additional measures to encourage all inmates to participate in suitable programming, including offering new incentives.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Yellowknife Centre, that Committee Report 34-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other side of this.

Bill 45: Corrections Act, sponsored by the Department of Justice, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 11, 2019, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development (committee) for review, the results of which are reported below.

Bill 45 is intended to repeal and replace the existing Corrections Act. The bill intends to focus less on punishment and more on the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into their communities, and to reflect various operational improvements in the Northwest Territories' (NWT)...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my riding, like others, there are no recycling facilities for paper, cardboard, and metals. With increased consumerism, waste reduction and recycling issues are essential. Our neighbours in the south in Edmonton, Alberta, have a world-renowned waste management facility. For us to not even have a recycling depot for cardboard and paper is unacceptable. We are further behind that we should be reducing pollution and waste.

Mr. Speaker, if you go to the dump in Fort Simpson, you will see piles and piles of waste cardboard and paper that could be recycled. Starting up a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I represent six communities in Nahendeh. Four of them are designated authorities, one is a hamlet, and one is village. I think that each community should be treated the same and equal. In four of those communities that are designated authorities are Indigenous governments. We are dealing with land issues all of the time and people looking to explore around the area. It's a complicated issue, and I agree, but across the territory is very complicated. I have to be respectful of the IRC, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu. However, they also have to be respectful of the Dehcho and the...

Just to clarify, when it gets to regulations, then they can bring it forward to make an amendment to this act to include those prescribed areas that we were talking about? Thank you.

Thank you. I just need clarification. I understand that there is nothing in the Dehcho, Akaitcho, and Acho Dene process. I understand that it is under (e), other areas prescribed as settlement areas for the purpose of this act. When they finalize this process, where are they going to be? Are they going to be in the act, or are they going to be in regulations? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Can the Minister advise this House if any communities in the Northwest Territories actually do have a paper/cardboard recycling program being utilized presently?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 100(4) and to have Committee Report 34-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Various experts submitted that the bill did not adequately provide and protect offenders with specific mental health needs or disabilities. Committee agreed that the bill should go further to address some of the challenges faced by inmates. Motions 9, 14, 16, 20 and 24 in Appendix A, developed in collaboration with the Minister, each contain provisions that provide for additional services or the reasonable accommodation of inmates with specific needs, such as those with illnesses, injuries, disabilities or for whom the English language or literacy is a challenge.

Bill 45...