Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess I'm going to have to, kind of, go with that question here: how do they communicate that with the local housing authority? Is it through email? Is it through telephone? How do they communicate that information?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as most people, Members, we end up with issues that are related to people's issues with the Power Corporation and that, or Housing Corporation and, you know, arrears and that. So my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, what policy or procedures does the corporation follow when they have overdue accounts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I have had conversations with him previously, and I am very encouraged to see this happening. Mr. Speaker, what were some of the things that they saw that can implemented right away for the betterment of our inmates, that we saw at the Guthrie House?

I thank the Minister for that nice answer, and it kind of led into my other question that I already was going to ask. When he talks about these programs, and having staff in the corrections centres, do we have psychologists and addiction counsellors in each of our corrections institutes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently, I heard on the news that the Government of Canada was wrapping up the public consultation in its review of the country's criminal justice system. During the review in the NWT, some were saying that the territorial system incarcerates people with addictions, disability, and poor mental health, where it should be offering them treatment. Mr. Speaker, the news article spoke about how their view is focusing on issues such as delays in the court system, better support for victims of crime, and decreasing the number of marginalized and vulnerable people...

I thank the Minister for that great answer. It does help us understand better as we move forward. I guess I should have phrased it "for all people" and not just going out for treatment to the facilities. I thank the Minister for the clarification. Mr. Speaker, what is the department doing to help residents who return home from treatment with their after-care? Because it seems to me, when we talk about that, what are we doing? That seems to be a big issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was asking questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services about the treatment centres, and I would like to follow up with some additional questions here today. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise us in the past fiscal year how many adults and youth have we sent out for treatment and what were the associated costs with these programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the Minister's answer in a little bit more in depth. It is good to see that we are doing those things. My next question is: Mr. Speaker, has the department looked at the Guthrie House model and seen if it is feasible to implement this type of model in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know how I'm going to match that. Mr. Speaker, today I talked about Guthrie House and inmates who have trauma and addictions and that. My questions are to the Minister of Justice. In regards to dealing with inmates with trauma and addictions, can the Minister please tell us what the department does to help inmates deal with these matters while they are incarcerated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I find it very important, especially with the after-care. I mean, that is when they are back here, in the territory, so I appreciate your answer on that. The other big thing that we find, though, is family and the support system that we have here for the people coming back, so my next question to the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is: what support programs are available for family members and spouses who have loved ones who are attending addiction programs outside the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.