Shane Thompson

First of all, I'd like to thank the committee for taking the opportunity to get out there and look at this issue and come up with a report.

My big concern, and I've heard this from numerous people in the southern part, is that some regions get negotiated contracts, and other regions do not; especially on the big projects. They are really concerned about that. I've seen two projects in the south that would have cost $17 million for two projects that went down south. Limited, and I mean limited employment, and it saved the government $982,803.41. That's what it saved the government. The...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will, again, be very quick. Again, I would like to thank the Minister, his staff, Legislative Assembly staff, and committee for all of the hard work that was done. Again, like the Minister has said, I think that the department staff and the Legislative Assembly staff went above and beyond. There were lots of long hours, but it was amazing to watch them work to achieve this great bill in front of us. I say it is a great bill because I think, as we have talked about it, it was something that I don't think that we would have been able to see in the 19th Assembly. I think...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice invest adequate resources into victim services to ensure public awareness of these programs; and further, that the victim services staff are in a position to inform victims of details pertinent to their well-being and safety, including cases where a person remanded in custody is released by the courts. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice prioritize work programs that are responsive to community needs, subject to necessary safety and security restrictions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice explore the possibility allowing for private interviews between an inmate and a facility's Indigenous elder or spiritual adviser subject, to reasonable restrictions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have to give credit to the Minister and his staff for working on this issue. I know I have been bringing it up for the last four years. They have actually reached out. It's been quite interesting, being at meetings with them there. Can the Minister advise this House: has he made recommendation for the new Minister coming forward that this is an issue that he needs to be kept aware of?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It's that time of year again, and I apologize to him, but I have to get these questions out. I want to talk to him about medical travel and the utilization of the Fort Nelson hospital again. Can the Minister advise the House whether his department and NWT HHSA have been able to complete the MOU for the residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte to access services in Fort Nelson that are referable where possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 45 be amended by adding the following after subclause 40.1(5):

(6) On appeal under subsection (5), the Director of Corrections may confirm, quash, or reduce any period of separate confinement imposed by the adjudicator.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends, to the extent it is possible before the dissolution of the 18th Assembly and for the public record, that the government provide a response to these recommendations, even of a preliminary nature, and that the committee may publicly disclose. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the committee recommends that the security assessment tool used by the correctional service be objective, structured, and empirically defensible, and that a risk assessment tool that considers the unique realities of Indigenous inmates be developed and used. Thank you, Mr. Chair.