Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Well, thank you. Because I know we need more programs. We need more fundings to operate some programs. And it is getting expensive for -- to access some funds or to operate some programs too, you know. So these are really important. So if it's -- if they have to apply and it's based on a first come/first served basis, then some of the smaller communities, I am just wondering if they're -- if they're ever considered, or do they -- does anybody get left out with this funding? Thank you. Or communities, I mean.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister doing to ensure that essential diagnostic imaging is more accessible to residents of the Northwest Territories, and will the Minister commit to developing a plan to establish MRI services at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Thank you.

Okay. Well -- okay, we may not have a courthouse but we do have court services there and we are close, you know -- the judge, everybody, the court parties, they come to Behchoko. So it would be nice if we can have one over there so that will accommodate the court services coming from Yellowknife. I know there -- it's a traveling court services. So there's two probation officers there already so why not add another -- court workers or sheriff -- or sheriff's department to go into the court services. Thank you.

Okay. So this funding, it keeps our recreation programs operating in small communities, regional youth sports events, youth centres. In the budget, they all stay the same. Why there -- you know, with the high cost of living, with the fuel, with the electricity, and some of them they have their own standalone youth centre, I am not too sure why, but can the Minister explain to us why the funding never really, like, increase. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I want to ask the Minister how many NWT residents are currently waiting for an MRI scan and what is the average wait time from referral to imaging. Thank you.

Yes, this is regarding our sheriff services, court services. I think it is a good career opportunity maybe for many of our young people that wants to learn more about what this department does. I just want to ask, you know -- like, I am really after -- going after jobs here because, you know, like, I want more jobs to be transferred to Tlicho region.

So sheriff services, I know they're all situated in Yellowknife. I want to ask the Minister if there's any plan in place or like possibly transfer and/or create a sheriff position in Tlicho region. Behchoko has the highest population, and there's...

Okay. Okay, community capacity building fund, okay, it's a federal government. It's coming from Infrastructure Canada. So can the Minister explain to us how this fund is being allocated? Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I just needed to know that. And then I just wanted to ask the Minister if there's -- what kind of services or what are they doing to help our young people that enter justice system. I don't know what kind of program and services they provide over there besides for the wellness. So are some of these positions -- are there educators that can help our young people to get their high school education? Thank you.

At one time I know Tlicho region was part of Fort Smith region, and now it's part of North Slave region, so I don't see any issue having this position transferred to Tlicho region and can still serve my colleague Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh's riding too as well. So it could be done. Why are they hesitant to move that position to Tlicho region? Thank you.

Okay. That's a lot of positions to support the court services. And it also goes the same for the correctional services. There's, like, 200 and -- what was it -- there's over 200 positions that's in North Slave region to guard our young people. No, 122 positions in North Slave Correctional Centre and South Slave Correctional Centre. That's a lot of position to guard -- can the Minister tell me how many -- how many inmates are in the North Slave and in South Slave? Thank you.