The preservation of oral history, the gathering of artifacts, stories, photographs and mementos will flow from the work that is going to be done. Communities and elders will be engaged and they’ll be able to provide valuable insight into how we’re going to do this. As far as timeline goes, in early April the first team will be heading to Fort McPherson to start the interviewing process and record memories for generations to come to hear about those early days as part of a unique interactive display that we’re going to be putting together.

This committee is targeting Canada’s 150th Anniversary in 2017 as a national milestone for unveiling the projects. So the work is going to continue to happen in anticipation of 2017 and Canada’s 150th anniversary. Thank you.

That was leading up into my next question in terms of 2017. I was speaking with some people at the Wellness Conference last week and we got around to discussing 150 years come 2017, and I’m glad to hear that this project will be unveiling that.

Would there be others, possibly special presentations to our long-serving constables, especially Aboriginal constables who have done a lot of work with the Lost Patrol, the Mad Trapper, those kinds of things? Is something in the works to create that? Thank you.

The context is going to be on the special constables and the role that they play here in the Northwest Territories, many of which are now elderly. The committee is reviewing options to conduct oral interviews that will preserve the valuable stories that all of these individuals would have. We’re also examining the possibility of producing a travelling display that could reach every community and be available in schools across the Northwest Territories. This would allow the history of the RCMP to be shared across the Northwest Territories, and we’re also exploring the option of a dedicated website as well. We also are looking at other ways that we can enhance the educational component of all the exhibits and artifacts that we’re going to collect.

The Member is correct; in 1903 the first Mounted Police post north of the Arctic Circle was established at Fort McPherson. Horseback and dogsled teams were the mode of transportation at that time. So we’ve come a long way, but it’s important that we record the history and all of the good work that the RCMP have done here in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we proceed to 2017, I know of one question I’d asked about two years ago was just the artifacts and some of the materials that are in the museums throughout Canada and whether or not the Minister would look at pursuing to get those back up in the North so that residents can also participate and see the history of these artifacts and what helped shape the Northwest Territories.

Has he taken the process of doing that or even looking at getting some of these artifacts on loan? Specifically the one in Regina, I know there’s a museum there that has some artifacts from historical events in the Northwest Territories. Has

he looked at pursuing those types of options? Thank you.

Thank you. Years ago I did work at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and I do know that they have some artifacts, RCMP artifacts. They had a nice RCMP display in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre at the time. There also is an RCMP museum in Regina. So, I think it’s just going to be a case of us trying to put everything together, and if it’s talking to the folks at ECE and approaching the RCMP museum in Regina maybe to repatriate some of those artifacts back to the Northwest Territories, those conversations and actions will take place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve accepted all of those recommendations that were contained in the report. We acknowledge the results aren’t as good as we would have liked them to be. The department has strong plans in place to address those issues. We also recognize that we need improvement in several areas of the corrections service. The OAG worked with staff to refine the direction and the areas where we needed to concentrate our efforts. As a result of the work currently underway, we’ll have a stronger, more modernized corrections service focused on rehabilitation and public safety.

I think we need to take the report and the review and move forward in a positive direction, and I certainly intend to do just that. Thank you.

That’s all fair and good, but clause 49(1) of the NWT Corrections Act states, “The Minister may appoint persons to investigate and inquire into any matter connected with or affecting the administration and operation of the corrections service or a correctional centre.”

Can the Minister, given the seriousness of the circumstances, indicate to the House when such an investigation will take place? Thank you.

I continue to work with the senior management at the department, the deputy minister. I take the concerns highlighted by the Auditor General’s report very seriously, and as Members know, I’ve been here for going into my 12th year. I’ve had questions in the past regarding

the corrections service here in the Northwest Territories. It is my objective here to make things better, to action these recommendations, and I certainly am intent on doing just that.

As far as the Member’s questions and concerns, I will have that discussion with the deputy minister and we’ll take things from there. Thank you.

I’d like to remind the Minister of Section 52 of the same act under Offences and Punishment reads, “A person other than an inmate who (a) contravenes this act or the regulations, or (b) conducts himself or herself in a matter that is detrimental to the good order and discipline of a correctional centre, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.”

Will the Minister of Justice authorize an independent investigation into whether charges should be laid under Section 52, for alleged contraventions of the act and its regulations? Thank you.

It’s unclear to me against whom the charges would be pursued. I’m not sure if the Member could clarify just who we should be charging and under what sections of the Corrections Act. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.I have no problem answering that question from the Minister. That’s his duty, not mine.

As we heard, the department had the opportunity to take corrective action back in 2008, the department refused to do so. Now the Auditor General reminds us, now in 2015, we’re still dealing with those very same issues. So any language we’ve heard from the department thus far that claims that if the audit

were done today, we’d have a very different process before us, does not hold any water.

One last time, the Minister has the power to appoint an investigation and hold those accountable for breeches under our act. Will he abide by our law? Yes or no. Thank you.

Again, I will go back to the department. As far as an investigation goes, I believe there was a report just done by the Auditor General. It has 14 recommendations. We agree with all 14 recommendations. We are taking steps to make improvements in our corrections service, and we will continue on that path with our accountability framework.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For 61 years the Conference Board of Canada has been a think tank, providing research advice on economic trends and organizational performances on public issues.

Knowing what the Conference Board of Canada has given the Northwest Territories government, what is the Department of Health going to do with this D minus? Are they going to accept it or are they going to dispute the D minus given to this government? If they choose to dispute it, which specific areas are they disputing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the intents or purposes of the Conference Board of Canada’s How Canada Performs report is to provide decision-makers with tools and assessments they can use to help improve their system. We are going to take these recommendations that have been provided by the Conference Board of Canada to help improve the system. As I’ve already indicated to the Member and to the House, we are doing a number of things here to improve the results for Aboriginal people as well as all people in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work with our Aboriginal partners, our Aboriginal health and community wellness division, to make these positive changes for all of our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would kind of like to hear the answer whether the department either disputes the findings of the Conference Board of Canada or accepts them. If they dispute them, I think Northerners need to know what areas they are disputing and they also need to know the truth of the matter.

Does the department accept the fact that it has received a D minus, which is barely a pass? Thank you.

As I’ve indicated previously, there are large disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across Canada. The reported health outcomes in the report are partially due to the proportionately larger Aboriginal population that we have in the Northwest Territories. The health outcomes are measured using assessment tools for health outcomes, not health care systems. Mr. Speaker, we are not challenging these results, but we are taking them in the intended from which they were provided. They were to provide us with an opportunity and tools to help improve our system. We are addressing the recommendations. We are reviewing the recommendations to make improvements here for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

The Minister has just said they are not challenging the results, so let’s get it on the record.

Does the Minister accept that the Government of the Northwest Territories Health Care Program has received a fair mark at a D minus? Thank you.