Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take the question as notice.

The question has been taken as notice. Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Following up on my honourable colleague from Deh Cho, the public is quite astounded that Diane Doyle, who was convicted of stealing over $270,000 from the territorial government, is now being allowed by our government to serve her three year sentence in the Fort Smith women's facility, instead of a federal penitentiary. However, to further this absurdity, I now have knowledge Ms. Doyle is also enrolled in the management studies program at Arctic College.

---Laughter

This no doubt raises credibility of our correction system, let alone our justice system which the Minister is responsible for. Can the Minister advise this House as to who bears the responsibility of the cost of tuition fees, books and supplies for federal inmates of the Fort Smith correctional facility when they enrol in the Arctic College courses? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I recognize, Mr. Speaker, that inmates are allowed to take different programs, even federal inmates, however the majority of the times those programs are available within the institution. This education institution is certainly not within the women's correctional centre. I want to indicate to the Minister, given that the employment opportunities in the management field for someone who has been convicted of major theft and fraud from her employers, certainly is limited. Can the Minister explain the rationale used by his officials to support the enrolment of Ms. Doyle in a management studies program, rather than one that might offer her real employment prospects? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Point of Privilege, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Point Of Privilege

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to raise a point of privilege. One of the fundamental privileges Members have in this House is freedom of speech. Ministers have the responsibility to fulfil government programs, the court processes accordingly. The Minister feels, to some degree, that we are uttering deliberate motives towards a certain individual. I would like you to make a ruling in respect to my freedom of speech in this House, as to whether or not I am allowed to express the concerns of my constituents or of the people of the north in this House. I do not appreciate the comments made by the Minister. He has not answered my question, therefore, I raise on a point of privilege on my

inability to express freedom of speech as a Member. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair actually welcomes an opportunity to deal with this issue because this issue has come up a number of different times. I would allow any other Member who would like to comment or debate on the particular point of privilege brought up by Mrs. Marie-Jewell. I will reserve judgement until tomorrow. I would be very interested in hearing Members' feelings about this particular issue before I make a judgement. Mr. Kakfwi.

Are there any other comments? Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know how much opportunity we should give this individual to defend herself. One of the recommendations was that the individual be allowed to attend a therapist in Toronto. One of the reasons her sentence was three years was for a deterrent from such a thing to happen again. Yet, here we are allowing this individual to stay here and to go to Arctic College. In my opinion we have 9,000 civil servants...

Excuse me, Mr. Gargan, right now I am permitting debate on the pros and cons of the point of privilege brought forward by Mrs. Marie-Jewell as opposed to the actual issue itself. Please limit the discussion to the pros and cons of that particular question of privilege. Mr. Gargan. Mr. Koe.

I have had problems with some of the other questions I have asked in this House dealing with issues and speaking about individuals who have raised issues. We as Members are asked many times, by constituents, to raise specific concerns or are asked by other residents in other communities to raise issues on their behalf. In the north, we have a small population base and many of our communities are small, so when we speak about a certain professional, a certain position or a certain individual almost everyone knows who we are talking about. I had great concern when the Minister said that we should not be referring to individuals by name. I believe that when we deal with some of the issues we have to deal with, or are asked to deal with, we should be allowed to mentioned the individual's name. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on this matter which is before us, I do not think anyone would argue about the matter of the right and freedom of speech which every Member has. However, I would like to raise a particular concern as it applies to matters which have been raised. Perhaps I might mention Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms, citation 511, "the freedom of speech accorded to Members of Parliament is a fundamental right without which they would be hampered in the performance of their duties. The Speaker should interfere with the freedom of speech only in exceptional cases where it is clear that to do otherwise could be harmful to specific individuals." I think the questions which are before you may in fact cause those particular situations to occur. However, that is not to suggest, Mr. Speaker, that any Member should not have an opportunity or the right and the freedom of speech to raise any particular issues that they so feel and wish to raise in this House.

I would also note, Mr. Speaker, that citation 493 of Beauchesne's also suggests that the Speaker has cautioned Members 493(4) with regard to protected persons. "The Speaker has cautioned Members to exercise great care in making statements about persons who are outside the House and unable to reply."

Hear, hear.

I believe this is absolutely crucial for us all, no matter what circumstances we are in, to ensure the credibility and the respect which is accorded to Members of this House and to the Assembly. I think it is crucial that I, for instance, be able to ensure that I am accountable for policies of this government as is every Member of this House and as such should in fact allow every Member an opportunity to challenge or to change those policies based on their advice and their input. I ask all Members, Mr. Speaker, to review this particular matter carefully and cautiously, not with the intention of in any way reducing freedoms in this House, but to take care, ensure and uphold the respect and the responsibilities given to Members of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Patterson.