Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: learning and healing while in custody. Mr. Speaker, last year, we heard an outcry from the inmates at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Mr. Speaker, on the principles of rehabilitation and reintegration through programs and services, both are essential to building a healthy society and avoid family violence.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice, during last June's session, stated the correctional centre offers a wide range of in-house programming, right from curricular activities to treatment healing programs.

Mr. Speaker, these services and programs are...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I support this appropriation, knowing that they are putting a budget there with the three categories of work, exercise, so I'm satisfied with the numbers, and basically just stating my support. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the appropriation, I just shared my recent trips, and recent trip here over the last couple of days here to finish off the engagement session for two of the communities that were postponed here back in mid-August. When I review the presentations here made by the infrastructure project team to the public and the leaders, advising them that this would be the schedule, knowing the fact that some of the workload is only accessible for this winter, or any other winter for that matter.

I view this bill or this approval process as a timely one to support the work program that...

Thanks to the Minister for that information there. It is good to see that these are being offered, and I am hoping that the inmates are taking advantage of these opportunities.

My next question, Mr. Speaker: on the issue of trades or GED, can the Minister explain the success on how many inmates have enlisted in these two categories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize all the social worker students and Candice Ferdinand, originally from Deline. Mahsi.

None. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My next question is: the government's mandate also commits to implementing the economic opportunities strategy. That's not something we have heard about lately. Can the Minister update the House on this work?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I liked the Minister's earlier statement there: build it, and they will come. Mr. Speaker, this is Small Business Week, and I appreciate the Minister's words about small business in his statement today. I would, however, like to ask the Minister some questions about the government's support for small business in the Sahtu region. Can the Minister give me examples of how ITI is supporting businesses in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is around the role of BDIC. It is also to be a developmental leader and to flow funding to the Northwest Territories' businesses, and that is needed most. Like the small communities in my riding, what is the GNWT doing to ensure that the BDIC provides the best value to the NWT? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

That leads me to my next question. The Minister mentioned the SEED program, or the SEED policy. The government's mandate for the 18th Assembly commits to updating SEED programs to better align themselves with the needs of entrepreneurial and small business owners. Can the Minister provide an update on this work?