Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in recent weeks I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the state of the correctional system in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, the entire judicial process in the Northwest Territories is seen as a confusing system of conflicting European values by the majority of aboriginal people who run into trouble with it.

Madam Speaker, we, as a government, have a responsibility to tailor our programs and services to reflect the cultural identity of those it's suppose to serve. We have failed in this regard. So now, Madam Speaker, with that said, what do we do to alleviate the problems that make the situation of our correctional system culturally and morally irrelevant?

Madam Speaker, the system as it stands now is designed to incarcerate people in a facility that is usually far away from the home town of the offender. Granted, Madam Speaker, that some of the programs offered by the correctional centre, such as alcohol counselling and educational upgrading, are good programs. It nonetheless remains a fact that by the very nature of the correctional centre, it confines a person to a certain geographic area. By doing that, we provide no opportunity for the offender to make restitution to the community or to the victim. Sometimes by incarcerating a person, we create more of a hardship on their family than a long sentence accomplishes in rehabilitating.

There must be a way to split a sentence so an offender spends a certain amount of time behind bars and an equal amount of time making restitution to his victim. Maybe some sort of day parole system so that when a person is not working or making restitution to his family or victim, they are confined to house arrest.

We, as a government, must take the initiative...