R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That wouldn't change the technical status or the report the technical status evaluation report of the school. But, I mean, it's a political question and so the Member's also a politician, she probably can answer that as well as I can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. So those intermediates, those agents would the example I used earlier, the GNWT flows money to an Indigenous government, the Indigenous government then uses that money to send their members to treatment. So it's not the GNWT directly sending somebody to treatment, it is another body, and that is what that is intended to cover. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the information I've received from the Department of Infrastructure, technical status evaluations are conducted when there are some certainty that major work is expected in the next three to five years. So if it looks like there's going to be some serious work that's required in three to five years, that is the point at which a technical status evaluation would be conducted. Thank you.

Thank you. So the question is whether the GNWT can and should start tracking these costs? Perhaps for a discussion of part of the reason for things like this class action are that we don't have to prove damages for every individual, don't have to prove that an individual became addicted to opioids due to, you know, the actions of a company and then prove the number. So what we are doing is looking at damages on an aggregate basis. Perhaps I can hand it to Ms. Zimmer to maybe explain things a bit more concisely. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I can't bring the commanding officer anywhere; I don't have that authority over the commanding officer. The RCMP are independent from the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are contracted. However, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight can reach out and contact the officer. And, frankly, given the interest from the Regular Members I would expect that they would be doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So this is for instances where perhaps for example, I believe, that money is flowed from the GNWT to the Tlicho government so that they can then pay for their members to go to Poundmaker's. So that's an instance where the GNWT has incurred costs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I know this has come up a few times in the House and, you know, the last time it came up it was a heavy subject and I, you know, expressed my concern and my thoughts with the family, and I'll do the same today. Clearly this is an issue that's touched people across the territory.

So when there is a missing person, the RCMP do look into it. If there is evidence of a crime, then there's a criminal investigation that occurs. If someone is missing and there is no evidence of a crime, it's still an open case, so. I have been in contact with the commanding officer about...

Thank you. So the legislation covers costs that would be incurred by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Those could include costs that were contributed to Indigenous governments, flowing through Indigenous governments. But if Indigenous governments incurred costs on their own and tried to bill back the Government of the Northwest Territories, those types of costs are not included. I can hand it to Ms. Zimmer for a response. I knew her first name; her last name escaped me for a moment. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 79, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 1st, 2023, I will present Bill 94, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.