Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Most of the smaller communities in the north do not have a lawyer a person can call if they get into trouble. However, the government has made an effort to provide services to anyone who needs them. Legal aid is only a phone call away. In fact, a list of lawyers is posted in every police detachment in the Northwest Territories. As a condition of their duties, these lawyers are required to accept all collect calls. Legal aid also pays for telephone calls necessary to allow the lawyers to become familiar with the case.
Instead of calling a lawyer, a person can contact a regional legal aid clinic or a local community representative of the regional office. These representatives are members of the community who are able to steer citizens through the legal system.
I would like to note the ongoing commitment of this government to improving northern justice through aboriginal and community justice initiatives. I encourage future governments to continue to pursue these goals. Every effort must always be made to ensure that residents, especially those in smaller communities, are granted all their rights and privileges under the law. Every effort must also be made to ensure that justice is done.
Mr. Speaker, under aboriginal initiatives, the community of Fort Providence has, during the last year, worked on creating the possibility of an aboriginal correctional facility in the community of Fort Providence. Unfortunately, to my disappointment, there is no money allocated for that initiative. And I'm truly disappointed that whether it's the government's fault or the Standing Committee on Finance's fault, I would like to say that it is a step for my constituency with regard to aboriginal justice initiatives. Mahsi cho.
---Applause