Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before we begin a line for line examination of the Department of Justice, 1999-2000, I would like to provide a brief overview of the Department of Justice, its activities and the key programs and legislative initiatives planned for the upcoming year.

The Department of Justice is responsible for the administration of justice in the Northwest Territories. Our chief objective is in partnership with the RCMP and the Crown to ensure the safety and security of communities. This objective remains challenging as the factors which lead to a high rate of crime, such as substance and alcohol abuse, continue to be problems with many of our communities.

In this budget the Department of Justice has identified additional resources in the areas of corrections, community justice and policing in order to fulfil our ongoing role with respect to the safety of communities. These investments, which I will describe in greater detail shortly, will directly enhance the security of the people in the communities of the Northwest Territories.

We have also identified additional resources in the areas of legal aid and legal registries. Again, these investments will be of benefit to northern residents and will help the legal framework required for business and community development. We will also be proceeding with a number of legislative initiatives, many of which have had to be delayed because of the crowded pre-division legislative agenda. Some of these legislative initiatives were first proposed by this Assembly, by ordinary Members and we will now have the opportunity to begin work on them.

Corrections. This budget will mark the initiation of the much needed expansion of the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. This expansion is necessary to address the serious overcrowding and safety issues we now face. These capital improvements will be the first step in improved facilities and programming to support offender healing and rehabilitation. In 1999-2000 the creation of a stand alone probation service will also be a significant improvement in support for offenders and their healing and for communities in assuming a greater role in dealing with members who break the law. The creation of a stand alone probation service will mean more offenders will have the opportunity to safely serve their sentence in the community. An effective probation service will also play an important role in providing program referrals and support to offenders. The expansion of the Yellowknife Correctional Centre and a stand alone probation service are important initiatives which I feel will make a significant difference in reintegrating offenders into community life and reducing the chance that they will re-offend.

This budget also reflects an ongoing commitment to wilderness camps. These camps offer an important programming option for those offenders who choose to take advantage of them.

Finally, the department's Corrections Division will continue to offer training programs to ensure that the maximum number of local people can assume positions within territorial correctional facilities. Currently the percentage of aboriginal employees within every community facility exceeds the percentage of the aboriginal population within those communities.

Community Justice. This budget reflects an increase in the amount of funding available to community justice committees. These committees were first established with a mandate to handle the division of youth under the former Young Offenders Act. Now, most committees deal with adults as well as youth. Increasingly, they are also being asked to assume a greater role by other justice and community groups. The increase in the amounts paid to communities will help committees respond to this increased demand by allowing them to increase their honoraria, meet more frequently, hire part-time coordinators or fund activities like sending young offenders out with elders on the land. A review of the community justice initiative, which will be complete in the coming months, will identify other ways in which the department can best support communities in their efforts around community justice.

Policing. Through internal reallocation, the department has also ensured that there will be a full staff complement of RCMP officers in the Western Territory. We are also continuing to work with the RCMP to ensure that programs such as the Community Constable Program and the Auxiliary Constable Program remain an important part of community policing. Currently the RCMP "G" Division is supported by 27 RCMP auxiliary constables and 15 community constables. This number is expected to increase with another community constable training course planned for May. There are currently 15 aboriginal RCMP members within "G" Division. The RCMP has also implemented an Aboriginal Developmental Policy, which will ensure that more of "G" Division's operational and administrative positions are staffed by aboriginal officers. We are seeing a positive trend in the RCMP becoming more representative of the communities they serve. The department will continue to play an important role in ensuring this trend continues.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this budget reflects an emphasis on those areas most important to communities. The investment we are making in this budget should produce tangible benefits to communities in terms of improved safety and security. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.