Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This new legislation removes flexibility for how best to deal with an offender. They all essentially become the same under the new law, especially new offenders and young offenders. It brings additional costs that detract from our resources and capacity to deal with the more fundamental need of supporting our people towards a healthy lifestyle that helps divert offenders from the costly justice system.

This new legislation will exacerbate the already overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in our correctional facilities. It will lead to burgeoning costs in many ways, as detailed by my colleagues. This legislation presents us with some realities that need to be faced, however. Support from the Government of Canada will help us meet these realities.

We are clearly committed to doing our part on the prevention and diversion in track. We need a partnership on meeting the impacts of this legislation on the people and Government of the Northwest Territories.

Some of us disagree with Bill C-10 but we recognize the realities of its impending

implementation. Let’s support our Minister as he heads to Ottawa in seeking cooperative work to deal with the new costs of Bill C-10.

I would like to request a recorded vote.