Mr. Speaker, the intention is to provide all of the regional wellness council members throughout the Northwest Territories orientation into the new system, how they will fit into the new system, how people across the Northwest Territories, including Members, understand the new accountability structures that are in place and that address the auditor's general report, and much of that training will be taking place in the regions where those regional wellness councils are currently located. I can't confirm a date. Those dates haven't been set. But they will be taking place through the summer and into the fall.

Will the regional council orientation include development of regionalized policy because the geographical differences that many of our ridings have? If these policies would be a part of the orientation or part of the first quarter developments?

Mr. Speaker, the role of the regional wellness councils starting August 1st, and ongoing, is to do exactly what the Member is talking about. It is to work with the territorial authority on territorial programs, but also how do we customize or tailor those programs to meet the local community and individual regional needs. Those policies will be done, probably, ongoing for the rest of the life of this new structure because changes do take place. It will take time. The councils will be involved on an ongoing basis. As new programs come out, they will be required to help us design a local delivery. This is part of their role. This is something that they will be involved with ongoing for the life of the authority.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question: is there a possibility for an extended invitation to the MLAs of the area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I won't commit to that at this time. I will certainly give it some consideration. I do want to remind the Member that these regional wellness councils are not political bodies. They are not bodies intending to provide politics around health and social services. They are intended to help tailor programs and customize programs to meet the needs at a regional level. I will have to think about that one. I think all of us would like to keep these bodies away from being political bodies.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation. Can the Minister provide an update to this House on the plans for maintenance and improvements on the Northwest Territories highway system? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has a 25-year transportation strategy, which we are continually reviewing. We review all the north and south sections of the Northwest Territories. We do these on an annual basis, and we have a long-term plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the Minister for his very terse and brief reply. My second question is what is the plan for the repairs and improvements for the section of most concern, between Behchoko and Yellowknife.

As many of us know that drive this highway, the department has some serious challenges with this section of highway between here and Behchoko. Over the number of years, the department has been working on and developing a program, that is under way, of monitoring four test sections of this highway to determine the best options, how we are going to deal with them moving down the road. There are some major challenges with this section of highway, but the degradation of permafrost and such -- we need to make sure that the future money that is spent on this section of the highway, we will fix the highway properly, so we can get it to a situation where it is the way it is supposed to be.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What are the findings of the Department of Transportation on the reasons for the increasing deterioration of the road conditions? Are they unique to the North and how would the Department of Transportation address them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I've said, there's four test sections on this highway; most of it's related to degradation of permafrost. Also, as the Minister responsible for Climate Change this is a serious problem that we're going to be facing and we are facing right across the Northwest Territories. It's a challenge. As any government moving forward, us as the 18thAssembly, 19thand 20thAssembly are going to be facing if climate change isn't brought under control, so it's something that the Assembly as a whole is going to have to work towards. It's going to cost a lot of money for mitigation and adaption in this area and we are spending the appropriate amount of money to try to keep this section of highway in a safe and effective manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister did state that the department is looking at some best options in terms of addressing the need for improvements in maintenance on the highway system, so this could be a long shot, but my closing question is: would the department consider the options in terms of currently using chipseal versus the idea of maybe down the road examining the serious merits for using asphalt versus chipseal? Mahsi.

It's ironic that through forced growth $3 million has recently been allowed for significant chip seal repair. For this coming season we are looking at chipsealing 80 kilometres of this section of highway between here and Behchoko, and I think it's something the department is having a serious look at. There's a couple of other options, but this particular year we're moving forward with chipsealing on a certain section of highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Locking up men for family violence offences can give victims a temporary reprieve from abuse but does nothing to address long-term crisis of family violence in the territory. We need programs focused on rehabilitating offenders. "A New Day" is a program funded by this government that helps men who want to stop committing acts of violence. Its funding runs out December 31stof this year. Anecdotal evidence suggests the program was successful but it's undergoing review by the Department of Justice. My first question is: how much is this review going to cost? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite correct, the funding does run out at the end of the year and there is currently an evaluation taking place. An external evaluation is being conducted by a company by Proactive; their services were obtained to a standing offer agreement. The cost of the evaluation is $43,700 and the evaluation is to be completed by November 1, 2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I believe I heard by November is when this review is going to be completed. The NWT Coalition against Family Violence stated that keeping this program-- making this program permanent is one of their top three priorities. If this review is not going to be completed until November and the government deems it unworthy or ineffective is there going to be something to replace this program so there's not a gap in service? Is that going to give the government enough time?

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, the evaluation is to be completed by November 1, 2016, and hopefully we'll actually receive it slightly before that time and we do believe that that will give us sufficient time; that there will be no gaps in treatment and that this important type of program will continue.

Is there a contingency plan if the review finds that the program isn't effective?