Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This particular issue has been brought up during the FPT. It does reflect in all jurisdictions even though we are a small jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories. It does have an impact on us. Certainly it has been addressed. It is not only us but other departments as well, whether it be the Justice Department or the Status of Women. We are conducting a jurisdictional survey and some protocols here in the Northwest Territories and other jurisdictions as well on the responses and issues. We need to be, of course, prepared for, as the Member alluded to, the Olympics are coming up and other activities and functions that are happening. This has been addressed as part of the FPT on a going-forward basis. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, before the influx of some major industrial activities here in the Northwest Territories associated with construction during the diamond mines construction phase, there was a lot of speculation in the Northwest Territories about the possibility of that being accompanied by things like more organized crime, drug trafficking and actual activities associated with the sex trade. Is that something that the Minister would be briefed on from time to time by the law enforcement in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, yes, through the RCMP “G” Division, the commanding officer and also the commission of RCMP, I do have frequent meetings with them on an annual basis, quarterly. So they do brief us on activities that are happening in other jurisdictions which may have a potential impact on the Northwest Territories and also on our jurisdiction as well. If it is pertaining to those kinds of particular issues, then certainly that is addressed through that avenue. We do have a protocol in place with RCMP “G” Division on a going-forward basis informing each other. If there

are issues that we need to be aware of, right away they will let us know. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, this issue of human trafficking came as a surprise to me. I was not aware of the magnitude of this problem, the existence of this problem, especially associated with industrial activities and with things like sporting organizations and activities. I was quite surprised to hear of it. Quite often, when we hear of missing persons, we don’t associate it with anything like as heinous as human trafficking, but there are outstanding missing persons for a long time in the Northwest Territories. Quite often, too, in southern Canada, we hear of serial killers and things being uncovered eventually, we find out that, in fact, a lot of the young women affected by this are First Nations young women. We have those outstanding cases from the Minister’s riding still. I guess people just need to be aware of it. I would like to ask the Minister, what kind of activity does the RCMP undertake to ensure that, when there are cases of missing persons in the Northwest Territories, it is not associated with something as heinous as human trafficking? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, RCMP “G” Division, even at the headquarters, they have their own communication dialogue to reach out to the general public in various jurisdictions, but our own jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories will continue to work with them on how we can better communicate with the general public on those key areas that the Member is alluding to. I think it is important to highlight the importance of it and just to be aware. I think that is what it comes down to and we’ll continue to make every effort to do that through the general public, working closely with the RCMP G Division within our Justice Department and also Status of Women and other departments that we need to work closely with this particular area, because it does impact most of our departments here in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t go see the movie myself, but I know my daughter went to see that movie called “Taken” and she was quite shaken by it. What takes place, on the part of our government, that would warn young people of some of the dangers that may be out there of associating with people that may be involved in these types of criminal activity? What kind of awareness and education program is out there, perhaps even through our high schools? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.