Mahsi, Madam Chair. (English not provided)
Madam Chair, I just highlighted a few key points, three points to be exact, which I'll be reflecting on in detailed information, as well, where we talk about the department's goals and objectives for the year 2007-08; what their prime focus is on. There are a lot of issues around the table here that we've been talking about. One of the areas that we must commend the department and the Minister on is that Sachs Harbour is getting a detachment. It's the hard work of the Member from the area, Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak. Even in other communities, as Mr. Yakeleya pointed out, Colville Lake; and also myself, Gameti. I've been an MLA for a year and a half now, going on to almost two years, so if I had the same amount of time as the Member for Nunakput, we probably would have battled and then flipped a coin for a detachment in the community. At the same time, I fully support Mr. Pokiak's riding getting the detachment and I'm certainly looking forward to our detachment in Gameti and also Colville, and other small communities. It's a real asset and also it's a real need in the community to have that detachment in the communities.
That's one area that I wanted to focus on. The other one is this courthouse that's been brought up before. Mr. Ramsay brought it up as well, a need for a courthouse in Yellowknife. You know I was satisfied that it wasn't in the budget per se but, at the same time, I think those kinds of funding and investments should be going to communities first where we don't have a court facility, court supplies, court equipment; an up-to-date facility which we do not have in the smaller communities. So that should be the first priority before we look at a huge project here in the city of Yellowknife. Those are ongoing discussions and I'm sure we'll be talking about that at a later point.
Another area, Madam Chair, and a final point I'd like to focus on, is with respect to the culture programs through the rehab in the correctional centres. You know, we talk about the wilderness camps. I'm fully supporting the Minister coming to my region, his department, working on a wilderness camp for our region and also for the Sahtu. I've been after the department to know exactly when it's going to happen. I'm hoping that it will come to fruition soon enough. I'll be going after the department again, just as a reminder. They've been working hard, too, as well, with the community of Whati; it will be in Whati this year. So I'd like to commend the Minister and his department in that area as well. At the same time, with the correction programs...It's hard to focus. Corrections program at the correctional facility is the culture program. I visited the facility. I met with the Tlicho inmates. At the same time, the program has been delivered. I think it is inadequate. More programs need to be delivered. Also, in different languages as well where we had over 20-plus inmates and there wasn't any Tlicho speaking person in there as a counsellor. I still have concerns about that. Interpretation services should be provided. There comes a time where inmates are there interpreting, which shouldn't be allowed at all. That should be the last resort. It should be an outsider coming in as an interpreter. That is why we, as GNWT, pay for the services. Those are just, Madam Chair, some comments that I have. I will have questions in the detailed documentation. Mahsi.