This is page numbers 30 - 77 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

Topics

Return To Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Question 36-12(6): Review Issue Of Accountability Of Maca
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. The Minister is aware that the present Companies Act in the Northwest Territories is badly in need of revision. It is acting now as a disincentive to businesses in the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister tell me his timetable to have this act revised and brought into a modern context?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I have asked the department to provide that information to me some time ago. If they have provided it to me, I have long forgotten what the information read. So I will have to take the question as notice until I have read it once again. I will provide the information to the Member in writing. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Madam Speaker, I was going to pose a question to the Honourable Don Morin, Minister of the Public Works and Services. But I see that he just stepped out, so I will refer my question to the Premier to take it on behalf of the Minister.

Madam Speaker, during the Fifth Session, I raised an issue. The issue was the POL product prices in the territories. At that time, the Minister responded that they were reviewing the prices of POL products in the territories and this should be done by March 31. I would like to ask -- since he just walked in -- the Minister, have the prices for POL products been reviewed, as he indicated, by March 31?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 38-12(6): Price Review Of Pol Products
Question 38-12(6): Price Review Of Pol Products
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We were hoping to have that done by March 31. We haven't been able to meet that deadline. I am expecting that to be done any day now. Thank you.

Return To Question 38-12(6): Price Review Of Pol Products
Question 38-12(6): Price Review Of Pol Products
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 43

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. To follow up on my colleague's questions about shoplifting which was featured in a local paper last week, in the article the police were quoted as saying, "First-time offenders are not usually the problem, and the sheer terror of being found out and reported is usually enough to stop many first-time offenders from ever shoplifting again." But there's an indication there that habitual shoplifters are a growing problem in Yellowknife. Perhaps, Madam Speaker, we need to take a look at whether the punishment fits the crime. Obviously, currently, punishment is not providing a

disincentive for those who are convicted. I was wondering if the Minister could advise what the Department of Justice is doing to encourage the federal review of the effectiveness of punishments for this crime -- the crime of shoplifting -- in light of its growing frequency.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, we do know that in different parts of the world, the different countries and civilizations have different ways of dealing with offences like this. For instance, it's been reported that in some Middle East countries there is only one offence committed by the offending hand. On the first offence, your right hand is cut off. On the second offence, the other one is cut off, and it's difficult after that to shoplift.

---Laughter

I know of stories where tourists have found goods and wallets that have been dropped on the roadside, days after, in some of the more remote parts of that part of the world. However, that was also the case here, as late as the mid-1950s and even early 1960s, in some of our communities. It's not the case any more. We do know that it is a growing offence.

As I've said, we have no specific suggestions to make to the federal government at this time, but that whole area of young offenders is under review with the federal government and there is going to be some consultation done with other jurisdictions and discussions in the upcoming Justice Ministers' meeting that we're having in November. So there's nothing specific to suggest to the federal government at this time about how to deal with the growing shoplifting trend across Canada. Thank you.

Return To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear that the Minister isn't proposing such barbaric measures as cutting off young offenders' hands to the federal government. But, I think, Madam Speaker, perhaps what we need to do is look at the reason why people shoplift in the first place. There are several reasons. It gives some a sense of power. They feel they're controlling the situation. It can become an addiction, like taking a drug. And, often, it's done on a dare. They think it's funny or it's a joke. Or, perhaps they're doing it because they're neglected and breaking the law gives them attention they don't get from their parents or in their home situation.

If, as I suspect, Madam Speaker, shoplifting is a symptom of a much deeper social problem, does the Department of Justice ensure that those who do get to the courts right now and are convicted receive adequate counselling to help them deal with their problems?

Supplementary To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, we are engaging in a review of the kinds of programs and support we give to the people who come under the care of the Department of Justice to make sure we do everything we can to provide correction and counselling services to ensure those people who are charged and convicted have an opportunity to come out with a zero chance of re-committing offences. I believe the Department of Social Services also has some programs available at the community level that also focus on the same thing, before offences are committed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Question 39-12(6): Review Of Punishments For Shoplifting
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is again directed to the Minister of Renewable Resources. It is regarding the same situation, the circumstances surrounding my constituent in Coppermine being charged as a result of reviewing a board notice posted by the Minister's department. I would like to ask the Minister if he'll commit to look into the situation which occurred in Coppermine to ensure that hunters in all areas are not misled by his department in the future as the result of reward notices being posted in the communities for furs while those animals are out of season? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 40-12(6): Investigation Into Hunting Charge In Coppermine
Question 40-12(6): Investigation Into Hunting Charge In Coppermine
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I have taken the original question as notice and now that this one is on the record, I will be taking it into consideration in responding to the Member. Thank you.

Return To Question 40-12(6): Investigation Into Hunting Charge In Coppermine
Question 40-12(6): Investigation Into Hunting Charge In Coppermine
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 44

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Mr. Kakfwi, this question was not identical to the first one. It pertains to the same issue, but it is not a repeat of the original question you took as notice so, therefore, I allowed it to proceed. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Renewable Resources. Madam Speaker, I understand there was a commercial caribou harvest in the North Slave region this year which was an initiative undertaken by Canada/Northwest Territories economic development agreement, the proponent being the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Madam Speaker, I was just wondering if the Minister could advise whether in a commercial hunt such as this one, there is any effort to ensure the harvest concentrates on bulls or are female animals allowed to be taken as well?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, I must say that I don't know that information so I would have to take the question as notice. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.