Okay. The total reduction in this area has been $433,000 just in these last three motions. The department had indicated to us that that was offset by the federal government. I’m only seeing an offset of $170,000. To me, it still seems like a fairly substantial cut, so I’m going in favour of the motion.

Thank you,

Mr. Beaulieu. To the motion, Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr.

Chair. This

particular program, this special projects funding of $265,000, has been utilized to some degree in the communities — for instance, a skidoo trip to another community. But again, there is offset funding from the feds. The National Crime Prevention Centre has funding of $476,000 set aside for NWT projects. So this funding will certainly go towards these initiatives that are before us.

There is money out there that we’re tackling as the Justice department. Like I said earlier, we’re being innovative and creative, and going outside our Justice department and going after the federal government.

The federal government is more than willing to play a greater role in supporting the community-based programming. We did stress to them, through the FPT meetings, that we are unique in the North, and they are finally listening to us.

In reintegrating inmates into the communities — the On the Land Program — we've highlighted all that to them. Now they want to play a greater role, and

we are taking advantage of that. We feel that the monies that have been committed previously can be allocated to more effective and efficient areas.

Mr. Chair, once again, just for the record, there is federal money that is being played here. The federal government is willing to play a greater role. I think we need to continue to take advantage of that offer from the feds and that we will continue to do that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. To the motion, Mr. Krutko.

I will be supporting the motion. I think, if anything, we can enhance programs by using federal money and our own dollars, and deal with justice issues, and allow the communities the ability to deal with systemic problems in our communities, from youth and justice, to issues in regard to apprehensions and around the whole community decision-making process, to allow communities to be in the decision-making process of Justice — not to leave it up to the courts, but trying to find solutions in our communities to deal with the criminal matters that we see systemic in our communities.

We’re seeing more and more drug-related crimes in our communities. We’re seeing more and more young justice issues coming forward. If we can deal with these issues in our communities, trying to solve the issues at the front line, I think it will go a long way to saving government money in the long term. Also, it gives our communities the feeling that they are part of the justice system, by way of developing programs and services that meet their needs.

Every community is unique; every community’s different. I think it’s important that we do change the way we deliver justice in the Northwest Territories, and this is one of the ways that we’re looking at for doing that.

I, for one, would like to state that any time we get federal dollars, we’re able to enhance our programs, not cut our programs because we assume we're going to get federal dollars. Everybody knows, with the federal government having an election looming around the corner, that money is here today, gone tomorrow, and it all depends on what happens in Ottawa. So I don’t think we should put much hope in those dollars actually falling in our lap any time soon.

Again, I’d just like to state that I’m supporting this motion. But I think, if anything, if we can enhance justice in our communities and allow communities the ability to develop programs and services that improve the quality of life for the residents in those communities, we should do everything we can to assist them.

Thank you,

Mr. Krutko. To the motion, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Very briefly, I want to back up my colleague with additional remarks there.

In this government we developed a capacity, a community capacity. I think that's an agreed-on priority and way of operating in the North. But it requires consistency over time. I

think that's

recognized.

It would be nice to know, with these federal dollars, of course — had we been talking about them — how long they’re established for and so on, because I don’t want to see us undermining our capacity and that of the communities for a one-time federal program that might last two years and then disappear, and we’re left without capacity and the corporate knowledge to deliver those programs in our priority areas.

Thank you,

Mr. Bromley. To the motion, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the risk of being repetitive, I want to state again that it has been stated that there hasn’t been a full uptake on these programming funds for Community Justice. And at the risk of being repetitive, I want to state that without a coordinator, it’s quite understandable that the funds haven’t been taken up.

A coordinator will allow communities to have some leadership, to give them some guidelines to follow. And to reiterate what's been said by the two previous speakers, we need to start dealing with justice issues at a community level as opposed to a territorial and on a court basis.

I think Community Justice committees are the way to go. Deleting this funding is only going to make it more difficult, not easier, for us to advance that program.

Thank you,

Ms. Bisaro. To the motion.

The question is being called.

Motion carried.

All right. We’re still on page 7-35, Justice, Activity Summary, Community Justice and Corrections, Operational Expenditures Summary, $33.826 million. Agreed?

Department of Justice, Activity Summary,

Community Justice and Corrections, Operations Expenditure Summary: $33.826 million, approved.

We’re on page 7-37, Activity Summary, Community Justice and Corrections, Grants and Contributions. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can I get a breakdown on exactly the Community Justice committees and projects so that I can see exactly where the projects are and what communities are listed, and also so that I can understand which communities aren’t part of this process?

Thank you,

Mr. Krutko. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We do have some breakdown of per capita funding, with all the five regions: North Slave, South Slave, Inuvik, Sahtu and Deh Cho. I am not sure if you want to get into each community and how much they are getting. I can do that if the Member wants.

Just to be fair to the Members, as some of us are not part of the Social Programs Committee, it would be good if we could get that information. Just have it distributed in the House, and maybe before we conclude your department, give us an opportunity to look at that. Also, maybe if there is any information on the other programs listed on that page, it would be helpful.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We can certainly make that available to the Members. Yes, certainly we can do that.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to get an explanation. The Community Justice committees and projects amount in ’08–09 is $1.371 million, in ’07–08 it was $1.866 million, and I suspect the reduction is the $433,000-some that we were discussing earlier. But of the $1.371 million earmarked for these contributions, I’d like to know how much of that amount is federal dollars, and if I could also know where those dollars are reflected in the budget.

Thank you,

Ms. Bisaro. Ms. Schofield.

Thank you,

Ms. Schofield. Ms. Bromley. I mean, Ms. Bisaro.