Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was noted in my opening comments that, in June of 1995, supplementary funding was approved by the Legislative Assembly for the construction of community correctional centres. At that time, operations and maintenance funding wasn't provided for those facilities. As you will recall, when the last Justice Minister went before the Social Programs committee and since I've taken over, we haven't finalized the

method in which we're going to deliver on these community correction facilities with the funding that was put in place last year, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a point of clarification. Talking about the justice camps and alternative ways of dealing with offenders who normally would go, for example, to the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. The funding that's available; are we referring to the funding that would pay to set up these outpost camps where low to medium-risk offenders would go out on the land as opposed to going to YCC?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the community correctional centres were just that; they were correctional centres for minimum-security-type offenders who would have been able to stay within their communities. In the past government, there was substantive effort to try to place emphasis on that type of programming; however, as I indicated earlier, although some capital dollars were identified, there were no operations or maintenance funding identified and that lead to a dilemma for the department in how they would carry out this program given their limited resources. As I indicated before, that issue hasn't been resolved to date. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You've indicated, Mr. Minister, that the issue is not resolved. Has there been a plan put in place for Nunavut and what kinds of dollars are allocated for the eastern area? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Chairman, there currently is no plan put in place for the Nunavut area. What capital dollars have been allocated are in the main estimates before you. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When does the Minister expect to have a plan so it can be reviewed here in the House? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, with respect to the community-based justice initiative, we're trying to finalize a plan, as I indicated earlier, for early June. The Social Programs committee is interested in looking at that as well. At that time, we may be able to lay out some of the direction we're heading, in trying to keep a lot of our offenders within their own communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I asked this question before to the past Minister of Justice. The justices of the peace have not had training or workshops for a long time. This was going to be looked into in the past government. Has this gone ahead? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we're currently considering the appointment of a sixth judge who will be responsible for training of justices of the peace. In the interim, Chief Justice Halifax has been developing an ad hoc training program, utilizing court staff and members of the Bar to conduct training. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The new justice of the peace became a justice of the peace last year and he is unilingual. They would have to know about the justice system. Has this been translated or what is happening there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the department is cognizant of this fact that there is a lack of translated materials for justices of the peace. It's a matter of the timing of getting it done and the resources to get it done. As recently as January of 1996, we have conducted a JP training session. However, that doesn't address the need of the translated materials, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, when we talk about reductions within the systems of this government, one item I was very concerned about, as well as the people of my area -I think most MLAs were also concerned, especially those who represent small communities across the Territories -- is policing. Mr. Chairman, having the presence of a law enforcement officer in a community is very, very, very important. There are many cases whereby, in a small community such as Pelly and other small communities, when the RCMP officer is on leave and there is no one replacing that person, petty crime increases, perhaps the use of drugs increases, the safety of the elders, women and children are at risk. When I talk to people in my area of Pelly, Gjoa and Taloyoak, the RCMP officer is not only in the community to lay charges when a crime takes place, he is also there is help the people in the area of crime prevention.

I've noticed in the small communities where there 'is an RCMP officer or two, the RCMP officer is involved in sports, teaching the kids how to play hockey. So I was very pleased that, in his opening remarks, the honourable Minister indicated that there will be no reduction of RCMP policing in the small communities, either in this case or earlier when we met with the Minister of Justice at the time, Mr. Kakfwi. We told him over and over again, in the event that we make some reductions in this area, to keep in mind that having a police officer, especially in the small communities, is very, very important.

In the second area of community justice, I am a proponent of the community justice system. The community justice system, Mr. Chairman, we have talked about during the last five years now. We know there is a movement in this area, but I think the movement is much too slow. The people in the Eastern Arctic area know that the government is planning to empower the communities to give more responsibility to the communities in n the area of justice. a The ... (inaudible) ... program is perhaps equally important, giving the community some responsibilities in the justice system.

I am not saying, Mr. Chairman, that we should give the full responsibility of the justice system to a small community. Mr. Chairman, the western justice system is also important, but I think the community justice system is very, very, very important. I think we would begin to see those who commit petty crime, such as break and entry, in a community, would decrease if the community justice system was to take place in a community. I'll tell you why, Mr. Chairman. In our area, elders are a very important part of the society. Elders are respected members of society, elders are very close to their community well-being, elders are very concerned about young people. To have that closeness, knowing the traditional justice system that used to work for those people who broke whatever laws the community had, if it was not serious, I think in this case we would begin to realize that repeat offenders would decrease. I have talked to people in Pelly many times. When I have visited Gjoa Haven, I have talked to people.

In January of 1996, when I was in Gjoa Haven, I was in a truck and the local community radio station was playing. There was a young man from our community talking on the radio. He was not talking directly to me, but I'm sure he knew I was in the community. He indicated through the radio to the people of Gjoa Haven that the community justice system would best apply when an on-the-land program was to take place. He has a very brilliant idea, Mr. Chairman. He indicated that perhaps those people who have broken the law by a lesser crime, were to be brought inland -- Gjoa Haven is on an island -- during freeze-up and there would be no way of coming back right away without a supervisor; some respected community member, perhaps. They would go out on the land, do some fishing or hunting. Those who would otherwise be incarcerated, would be used for community purposes. The meat would be given to the elders, Mr. Chairman. The meat would be given to the handicapped and the recipients of social assistance. At the same time, while on the land, they would be learning how to hunt and how to provide for their family. At the same time, they would be learning about their culture which they have missed for so many years, from the elders or someone who is qualified to teach that.

By the same token, Mr. Chairman, they would be close to the land and close to the Creator of the land and they would be in harmony with nature. At the same time, their mind would begin to clear. At the same time, their health would begin to get better. At the same time, they would begin to enjoy the real lifestyle which they have missed for so many years. Once they have come back to the community they would want to go back to the land.

It would take time, but I think we should move much faster than we have been moving in recent years, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps during the activity-by-activity review, I will be asking questions. That is all for the time being. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.