Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. I am pleased to present the 2000-2001 main estimates for the Department of Justice. The department's 2000-2001 proposed operational budget is $61,520,000. The department's capital acquisition plan for 2000-2001 is $2,868,000.

Before you begin the line by line examination, I would like to provide a brief overview of the department and describe some of the key activities planned for this fiscal year.

The Department of Justice is responsible for the administration of justice in the Northwest Territories. Our chief objectives are to ensure that our northern communities are safe and secure. We do this in partnership with the RCMP and the federal Department of Justice, and with the advice and assistance of various people and organizations in our communities.

Meeting these objectives presents many challenges. As you all know, we have a high crime rate here in the Territories. This is linked to our social problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse. In addition, limited financial and human resources mean that we must find ways to make more efficient and effective use of what we have. This means careful planning, creative approaches, and building stronger partnerships with aboriginal, provincial and federal governments. It means working closely with all northern communities.

The Department of Justice recognizes the territorial government's fiscal situation. As a result, we have focused our request for additional resources primarily in two areas, correctional services and policing.

I believe that investing in these two areas and continuing to support and improve other program areas will help us to reach our objectives of safe and secure communities. I also believe that the core business of this department and the activities that we are planning this year, complement and support the priorities set out by the government in Towards a Better Tomorrow. Self-reliant individuals and communities, social well-being and a strong northern economy all require a stable legal framework and safe and secure communities.

In the area of corrections, the department's budget reflects a modest increase to continue the creation of a stand-alone probation service. Probation officers are currently in place in Yellowknife, Rae-Edzo, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope, and Deline. Positions in Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson will be staffed by the fall of this year. These probation officers will supervise offenders who have been released into communities.

We are dealing with fewer offenders in our facilities than anticipated through our contracting back arrangement with Nunavut. The department has identified additional funding for corrections to make up for this decline and to further develop and expand programs for offenders.

Corrections staff are receiving further training to deliver programs in the areas of cognitive skills therapy, aboriginal healing, and sexual offender relapse prevention. These programs focus on rehabilitation and healing. They reflect the aboriginal values of the majority of our offenders. Professional tools, including computer generated profiles of offenders, help staff assess the needs of offenders and design programs that are best suited to the individual.

The department's corrections division continues to train staff to make sure that the maximum number of local and aboriginal people are hired for the correctional service and a full range of career opportunities are available to them. Developing appropriate inmate programs and a corrections workforce that reflects the values and experience of northern people are important elements of our plan to improve the safety and security of communities.

Our focus on healing and rehabilitation is also reflected in the planning and design of new correctional facilities in Yellowknife and Inuvik. With the help of engineers, architects and local elders, we are well on the way to developing facilities that will promote healing and rehabilitation.

These new facilities will provide much needed space to house and deliver programs to adult and young offenders. These facilities will also allow adult offenders now serving their sentences in federal facilities in the south, to complete their sentences in the North and be closer to their families and communities.

This focus on healing and rehabilitation is also reflected in the department's ongoing commitment to further develop the wilderness camp program. These camps offer important program options for those offenders who choose to take advantage of them.

In recognition of recent increases in operational expenses, the on-the-land premium has been increased for all camp operators. This year, the department is also beginning a review of the Wilderness Camp Program. The purpose of this review is to determine the most beneficial and cost effective way to provide on-the-land programs to offenders.

In policing, the department has responded to the salary increase for the RCMP established by the Solicitor General of Canada. We have also supported the addition of six new positions with the RCMP. These new positions are intended to improve after hour communication with the RCMP for all residents of the NWT. These communication positions will also help RCMP officers in the communities respond more quickly to after hour calls for assistance.

Policing in communities will also be enhanced by the continuation of the Community Constable Program. This popular and successful program is being continued through a cost sharing agreement with the Office of the Solicitor General of Canada, and in partnership with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. This program will continue to provide training to local people who are interested in a career in community policing.

One other area where additional funding has been identified is in the legal registries division. These funds are necessary to implement an electronic system under the Personal Property Security Act. This new system will allow lenders to electronically register notice of any interest that they have in a borrower's personal property. This will replace the current manual system of document filing. The system will pay for itself through increased revenues within two years. These revenues will primarily come from banks and financing companies, who will be the major users of the system.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this budget and the activities of the department in 2000-2001 support the 14th Assembly's main priorities, are fiscally responsible, and will continue to improve the safety and security of our communities. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks. Mahsi.