This is page numbers 3403 - 3440 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was health.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Agreed. Moving on, page 7-7, Justice, activity summary, legal services, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $161,000.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Agreed. Moving on to court services, page 7-10, Justice, activity summary, court services, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $385,000. Agreed?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 7-13, Justice, activity summary, services to the public, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure summary, $145,000. Agreed?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 7-16, Justice, activity summary, services to government, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure summary, zero. Agreed?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Can we turn back to department summary, page 7-2, Justice, department summary, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $1.034 million. Mr. Abernethy.

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just going through this I think there's not a lot but some good things happening here. One of the things that appears to be missing -- and I'm sure it is somewhere and maybe I just didn't see it -- is over the last couple of years we've talked a lot about Arctic Tern, and I understand that some decisions need to be made about the Arctic Tern facility and where we're going to, in the future, place female inmates. I'm curious, was the planning studied? Does it not appear in this particular capital document on what we're going to do with the Arctic Tern facility and in any future correctional facilities that may be required to support inmates in the Northwest Territories?

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that Arctic Tern is still in the planning process. We're still working with the Town of Inuvik in that format and working on options on what to do with the facility due to low enrolment of inmates there. So those are the areas that we continue with. That's where we're at with the Arctic Tern. Mahsi.

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you for that, Mr. Minister. As far as the placement of female inmates, particularly youth female inmates, what are the future plans in that area? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chair, we presented to the standing committee some of the options that we wanted to move forward with Arctic Tern. Those are the options that we're currently working with. If we need to move forward on whether to close down the facility or the gradual closure of the facility, those are options that we've been working with. So we continue to work with the Town of Inuvik and also various departments that may have some potential impacts. That's the area that we're currently at the planning stages as we speak, Mr. Chair. Mahsi.

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thanks to the Minister for that. I mean, there's been a lot of discussion about Arctic Tern and where we might need other facilities to meet that, and I think there's been a lot of talk about the structure itself, the Arctic Tern facility, and whether or not it's going to be able to be a secure facility in the future.

My concern related to this area is if we're going to go out of Arctic Tern, I mean, it employs a lot of people in Inuvik. There is, I think, an expectation in Inuvik that we're not going to leave those people standing high and dry. Now, it may not be a Justice issue, the future of that building may not be a Justice issue, but I certainly think the Department of Justice would play a role in working with other departments to find other uses for that particular facility, uses which hopefully will come with some level of employment so that we can maintain some level of employment in the Inuvik area rather than eliminating 14 jobs. That might not be Justice. That might need to go somewhere else, and that will come out as the planning study comes forward. But I would like to encourage the Minister to continue working with his colleagues to find a real productive use for that facility that will hopefully maintain some levels of employment in Inuvik, because 14 jobs may not sound like a lot, but in a community the size of Inuvik or other communities throughout the Northwest Territories, 14 people and their families can add up to quite a lot. So I'd like to encourage the Minister to work with his colleagues and find a real solid, productive use for that facility, keeping in mind finding ways to employ. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chair, that is certainly one of our objectives, to work with other departments. We certainly do have a role. We have 14.5 PYs there. We're just not going to ignore them. If we do go that avenue, then we need to find a replacement, whether it be opportunities or whatnot. So those are areas that will be continued to be worked with within the other departments as well. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Next on the list I have Mr. Beaulieu.

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, just a question on the wilderness camps. I was just wondering the location of the wilderness camps and, basically, what type of infrastructure they have in place at those camps. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the wilderness camps are spread out in various communities. The infrastructure would consist of whether it be the buildings, the tent frames or the snowmobiles. We can certainly provide that detailed information. I don't have that in front of me as we speak, but certainly we can provide that freely to the Members. Mahsi.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister, for forwarding that information. Mr. Beaulieu.

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I could just get the number of wilderness camps that are in place, being used by corrections.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chair, I don't have that in front of me as we speak, but I can certainly provide that information. Mahsi.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you. Next on the list I have Mr. Yakeleya.