Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see this bill, particularly because I believe it will allow more flexibility for the correctional system to deal with young people who come in contact with the law. This will include having youth work with community justice committees, rather than going through the court system.

Mr. Chairman, a fundamental aspect of having offenders working with community justice committees is the young person's willingness to take responsibility for their actions. That is, as I see it, a vital component. By providing opportunity for young people to be involved in taking responsibility, I believe we create a social environment for youth to learn from mistakes, rather than just to be simply punished. I think it sends an important message that taking responsibility for our own actions helps us to admit that we are human and need help from others to find our way again.

Mr. Chairman, community justice committees must be fully supported in the work that they do with training, funding and assistance from the Department of Justice. I know it will be important to see that kind of support provided in order for them to work effectively. There also has to be a significant amount of training and funding for support for others who are involved in this process such as victims' services, workers, the RCMP and others in order to make sure that provisions of the act are properly implemented.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's also important to be aware of the information needs the parents have. So I urge the department to ensure that with the implementation of this act, they consider how they will communicate effectively with parents and families of young people who come in contact with the law. We need to encourage community residents to be part of existing youth justice committees and help create new ones where we don't have any. This encouragement will have to take the form of financial support and assistance from the Department of Justice. I hope the Minister can advise us now that he's planning to have his officials put in the next year's business plan increased funding to allow more youth justice committees to be active in the NWT with better support. I am wondering if we can find out from the Minister if that will be the case.