Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Menicoche on June 5, 2006, regarding criminal charges and conviction statistics for the Fort Simpson district.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the report Criminal Charges and Convictions Statistics for the Fort Simpson District. This report provides yearly and monthly data for Nahendeh communities during 2002 to 2006, as requested by the Member.

It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, the federal Department of Justice is responsible for Criminal Code and other serious prosecutions in the NWT. The judges and justices of the peace are responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of those charged with offences, and for sentencing those found guilty; they are independent of government.

The territorial Department of Justice has no involvement in the process other than to provide court facilities and staff. Convictions and the scheduling of court dates are entirely judicial matters, and the decision to charge individual offenders resides with the RCMP in consultation with independent federal prosecutors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.