Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been very concerned over the past week about the recent news reports on CBC and recent headlines in our newspapers about the heavy use of cocaine. The use of cocaine and any other drug has very, very serious impacts on our society and on our youth. We now find that there are gangs in the area of Yellowknife and there is a lot of drug trafficking which is leading to violence. There has been a rash of thefts and break-ins and all of this impacts on our justice system.

I think it is incumbent upon our formal justice system to start getting tough. The police and our court system led by judges have to start putting a heavy hand down. Our judges, in many cases are appointed by the Minister of Justice, and if they are a Supreme Court judge, I believe they are appointed by the federal government. I'm sure pressure from this Assembly, by people of the Northwest Territories, and from the Minister can give some direction to help deter and reduce the problem. Judges should get tough. They should start giving stiffer sentences to lawbreakers and not continually slap them on the wrist and give them negligible fines. Thank you, very much.

---Applause