Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

This is page numbers 1951 – 2010 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Update On Early Childhood Development Plan: Education, Culture And Employment Milestone Statement

Enbridge Pipeline Erosion Control Measures

Support For Terrax Minerals Inc.

Improving Consumer Protection

Hay River Rental Accommodation Challenges

Benefits Of Public Service Growth In The Sahtu Region

Yellowknife Rental Accommodation Costs

Resident Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Modern Treaty Implementation

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Emergency Situation Communication Protocols

Yellowknife And Peripheral Area Land Use Management Plan

GNWT Land Use Monitoring Capacity

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Improving Consumer Protection

Rental Office Workload Challenges

Rental Accommodation Subsidies

Land Lease Assessments

Residential Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Social Housing Policy Adjustments

Written Question 21-18(2): Complaints Of Sexual Assault Classified By RCMP As Unfounded

Tabled Document 302-18(2): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission 2015-2017 Strategic Plan

Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 28, 2017

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Lands

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Community Justice And Policing Activity

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 64-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Lands, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Goldney. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes. I will make this my final question. So, if we wanted to see a specialized sexual assault unit established in Yellowknife, what steps would be required to make that a reality? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Ultimately, that would be a decision of the RCMP. However, as I mentioned, we do consult with them. If we thought this was a particularly good idea, which I imagine we might, I could certainly bring it forth to the commanding officer, and then he could respond. Thank you.

February 23rd, 2017

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. As there are no further questions or comments, I will call this activity. Page 257, Justice, community justice and policing, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $5,238,000. Mr. Thompson.

Committee Motion 65-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Community Justice And Policing Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the activity, community justice and policing, in the Department of Justice, Main Estimates, 2017-18, on page 257, at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. There is a motion to defer. The motion is on the floor and being distributed. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Committee, we have deferred community justice and policing. We will continue on to the next activity, corrections. It can be found starting at page 260, continuing on to page 263. Do we have comments or questions on corrections? If so, please specify the page which you are speaking on. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to ask some questions about inmates serving federal time in the Northwest Territories. I will start by asking: can the Minister tell us approximately how many federal inmates are serving time in the Northwest Territories at this point?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes, I can. I see the figure as of today is nine. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'd like the Minister to comment on whether this is an increase, a decrease, or an average, say, over the last five years. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Although the number does go up and down, certainly, I have seen higher ones at other times, but I think this is more or less within the average. There is probably a range of numbers, but I don't think this is anything out of the ordinary, neither extraordinarily high nor extraordinarily low. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am wondering if the Minister can tell us about the decision to have federal inmates serve their time in the NWT versus sending them south. How does Corrections help make that decision? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Federal inmates are those who receive a sentence more than two years. I understand that Corrections Canada is the ultimate determinant of where they will be placed, although they do consult with the prison authorities here. Judges, for example, can recommend but cannot actually determine the placement. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So what kinds of issues would Corrections NWT look at in deciding whether we have the appropriate facility for someone who is serving federal time, or is that not a question that gets asked?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

The determination, Mr. Chair, as to where an inmate will serve his time is dependent on a series of factors: obviously, where they are from; the length of their sentence; access, also, to programs. Sometimes there are specialized programs that can only be delivered in the South. Certainly, all those things would be factors in making that determination. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. Could the Minister tell us: about how many inmates get sent south because the programming isn't available here in the North? Thank you.

Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

Topics

Help us improve OpenNWT