Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, when we were dealing with the Department of Education a few days ago, I noticed my friend was listening eagerly when I was making comments in regard to the current education system, that it was not meeting our needs, or the needs of the people of the territories. I think it is reflected in this department, too.
I just want to make a few comments about the justice system. In my view, Mr. Chairman, a lot of people are frustrated, and when you talk about justice system, it is not really serving the people to its fullest potential.
A lot of aboriginal people have begun to see the justice system as foreign, and I think that my colleague from Deh Cho has always made that reference. It is foreign and unresponsive to the needs of the Dene, and also to the Inuit. The system does not reflect our culture.
I must also say, as well, that there have been many concerns about the way that aboriginal offenders are dealt with in our territorial corrections system. I agree with my colleague, from the Keewatin central, when he made comments to that effect. The correctional system in the territories is not really working, and, in my view, it is because it is too institutionalized and there is not enough happening at the community level to rehabilitate the offenders, and also to prevent crime.
More important, however, there is a need to recognize that the long awaited changes in our national Constitution will finally mean that progress can be made, especially if aboriginal self-government is entrenched. The most awaited areas of self-government will be with respect to the making and enforcement of laws. This will be a challenge faced by our Department of Justice if this thing goes through in the Constitution.
We need to be getting the source in place and developing a framework that will allow this jurisdiction to move swiftly in the direction of true aboriginal self-government. I think that the department has to start looking at developing the framework now, because, in my view, if the referendum goes through, the department will have no choice but to start looking at that.
When I look at the departmental budget that is before us, I cannot see that need reflected in the way that the department is organized, nor the way the estimates are projected. I want to ask the Minister to comment on whether this is a budgetary framework that will allow us to participate fully in the constitutional transition that is in the horizon.