Thank you, Mr. Chair. The decrease for community justice overall is $1.1 million. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I will go back to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To be clear, I wasn't -- I appreciate the clarification on the funding but I was more asking what programming is being lost as a result. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the director.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The overall loss in programming there is related to the victim services independent legal advice federal funding agreement. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Frame Lake.
Okay. And is there not going to be a replacement of that program?
Thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will go to the deputy minister, please.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the deputy minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is correct, that funding, we did seek to have it renewed with the federal government. We received an email on February 6th that there will be no more funding as of the end of March 31st; however, we are looking internally in community justice to see if we can -- we're exploring options and see if we can fund internally for the short term but that will be indeterminate and, again, no federal funding approved for that item. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go back to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That certainly is disappointing to hear. And I appreciate that the department is looking into what they can do in the short term. You know, I just -- that program is one that I've referred a number of constituents to and has helped out a lot of people that I've worked with. So I see it as an essential program so would very much support the department finding resources to use to ensure that that program continues. I think it's an important one and one that we don't want to lose, so I would just put my plug in for that. If we do have to use territorial money, I am open to a supplementary appropriation coming forward. Thank you.
Thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Sorry, Mr. Chair. I didn't hear the question.
Okay, I will go back to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there was no question there for the Minister, simply a comment and just expressing support for the Minister finding funds to continue that program. And certainly if he has to come to Legislative Assembly, he'll get my support. Thank you.
Thank you. I am going to go to the Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would echo my colleague's comments on that particular program. It is one I also refer my constituents to. It's a very excellent program, and I look forward to finding a supp in the future on it.
This is more of a housekeeping item than anything else, Mr. Chair, and I will cede my time after I point it out. But YWCA of Yellowknife has not been YWCA of Yellowknife since 2017. Can we update it to their proper name? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Noted, and we will make that correction. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go to the Member from Great Slave.
That's all. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Is there any further questions? Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will just start by echoing my colleague's comments about the importance of the independent legal advice and representation for victims of violence. I've also referred constituents to this so would echo the comments that it is a really essential program that people are relying on, especially in some of their toughest times in their lives. So that one is extremely valuable, even if we have to find a way to fund it ourselves.
I wanted to ask next about the men's healing programs. It's in the business plan to support communities to deliver community-led approaches to men's healing programming. And it looks like 100 percent of that funding has been allocated, which is good. Has there been demand for that programming that our budgets were not able to meet? Like, has it been considered to increase the budget if there is more need out there for men's healing programs? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, yeah, this is a very popular program. It's been fully subscribed every year. So 2025-2026, six communities are completing the final year of their funding under the multi-year agreement supporting this programming. And the department advertised an expression of interest for multi-year funding -- sorry, wrong line.
Six communities applied and were approved in 2023-2024. So the program is running in Behchoko, Liidlii Kue, Tulita, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
And has the department been monitoring any outcomes of those programs, any successes we're seeing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will go to the Minister.
Thank you. I will go to the deputy minister, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Okay. I will go to the deputy minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the department uses the following metrics to monitor programming: So expenditure, 100 percent of the budget has been allocated; agreements in place, and six community agreements are in place; number of participant program supports and number of culturally appropriate healing activities; and, participant and community feedback that is reported year-end in May. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go back to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for that. I hope that we're also making some attempts to try to assess some of the more qualitative outcomes of what difference these programs are making in communities and in people's lives, but. And I would also just encourage the department to be looking at how many other organizations might be applying that we're not able to fund and be increasing that budget for next year accordingly because I think it's a really important program.
Secondly, I wanted to talk about -- okay, community justice committees, which it's also in the business plan in terms of trying to ensure that as many communities as possible have the opportunity and can establish community justice committees. And it looks like there's 23 active community justice committees. Does the department have any information about whether this number has been increasing or decreasing over time to try to see how much chance we have of trying to get those committees in every community? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, the ability for a community to participate in this program really comes down to their capacity within that community to have the available participants within their groups to participate. The number of communities that participate has remained fairly steady. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us what difference it makes in those communities that do have community justice committees; how does that impact outcomes for those going through the justice system or what options are available to people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the communities that participate have a higher success rate in restorative justice as well as in -- oh, I lost the word -- diversions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will go to the Yellowknife North Member.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I do hope that we can delve a little further into what are some of the barriers in those communities that have not been able to establish justice committees because I think every resident of the territory and every community should have access to restorative justice, and so I am hoping that we will set a goal of increasing the number of communities with those committees and seeing what can be done to address the challenges.
I also wanted to highlight -- so elsewhere -- okay. On the page 22 of the business plan it talks about reintegration supports and the fact that as of last September we had established four justice navigator positions. Can the Minister explain what those justice navigator positions are supposed to do and what they've been able to accomplish so far? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My apologies.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will pass to the deputy minister.
Thank you. I will go to the deputy minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is a new and exciting program for community justice. It's designed to help people safely navigate the justice system by building stronger connections between justice service providers and community support, so sort of a transitioning program to help people reintegrate back into their community, develop wellness plans, culturally relevant referrals. So just assisting them and not leaving them once they leave a corrections facility or probation or something of the sort. So hoping to get some good results out of this program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So is that service available to all of our communities in the territory or just some of them? Can you explain which communities the justice navigator positions are serving. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.
