Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' Statements. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Family Violence Awareness Week in the Northwest Territories. The theme this year is "Healthy Relationships, Healthy Communication." There are events occurring across the Northwest Territories between October 16th and October 22nd to bring attention to family violence and promote healthier ways for people to deal with conflict.

Family violence is a complex issue, and it must be addressed. The truth is that family violence occurs at epidemic rates in the Northwest Territories. According to a Statistics Canada profile released in January 2015, the rate of family violence in the Northwest Territories is nine times the national average. This is horrifying, it is saddening, and it must stop. Although our rate of family violence is unacceptable, we are doing some work to address it. I want to acknowledge the work of the Coalition Against Family Violence in organizing this special week every year since 2001. The coalition is a territorial interagency group chaired by the Northwest Territories Status of Women Council. Its goals are to increase awareness, reduce the incidence of family violence, and respond to family violence and the needs of those affected by it in the Northwest Territories. The coalition has often provided us with innovative approaches, advice, and input for programs and services, and I thank them for that.

The Government of the Northwest Territories provides programs and services to address family violence through the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice. We are providing support, but we can, and we must, do more.

Mr. Speaker, every Member in this Chamber is a role model within their individual ridings. I am asking that each Member strive to address family violence by making it a topic of discussion when meeting with constituents, bringing the issue forward to municipal and Aboriginal governments and other community leaders to see how they can help, speaking out against family violence in your social media campaigns, and making a conscious effort to dispel gender-based comments, jokes, and expectations. It's time for healthy communication. It is time to speak out. It is time to say family violence is not okay, and we will not tolerate it any longer.

Mr. Speaker, we all have a part to play in promoting healthy relationships and healthy communications. This week is a great time to start. It's not always about marches and letters, Mr. Speaker. Here in Yellowknife on October 21st, Family Violence Awareness Week features a family fun day at Northern United Place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Families are invited to spend quality time learning about healthy communication with free activities such as face painting, a three-legged race, and a reading corner.

There are other events taking place throughout the Northwest Territories. The full list is available on the Northwest Territories Status of Women Council website,

www.statusofwomen.nt.ca

. I encourage everyone to attend a local Family Violence Awareness Week event and to have a discussion about family violence with your colleagues, your friends, and your family members. Let's make our communities, homes, and families places where everyone is valued, respected, safe, and free from abuse and violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever culture, heritage, and language are at the forefront of our thinking, in the Northwest Territories and in Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action; continued commitment to training and information on the history and legacy of residential schools; the Council for Ministers of Education Canada's Indigenous education agenda; and jurisdictions across Canada incorporating Indigenous history and issues into their curricula all speak to a renewed focus on Indigenous cultures and heritage at the national level. I will be bringing that lens to my term as the Chair of the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Culture and Heritage.

For the Government of the Northwest Territories, the 10-year Culture and Heritage Framework sets up a strong vision to support, promote, and include northern cultures and heritage in all of our work. The framework aligns existing culture and heritage activities of all territorial government departments around shared goals and priorities. It encompasses traditional Indigenous cultures, as identified within the Traditional Knowledge Policy, contemporary expressions of Indigenous cultures, and the cultures and heritage of Northwest Territories residents of all backgrounds.

In accordance with our mandate commitments, we have developed an interim action plan for the Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework. This plan sets out Education, Culture and Employment's actions and lays the groundwork for the development of a new four-year action plan with the input from all Government of the Northwest Territories' departments. Mr. Speaker, at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, we celebrate and support culturally based tourism which helps preserve and promote traditional knowledge. Our exhibits feature the art, traditions, culture, and history of the Northwest Territories, and more than 50,000 visitors learned about the Northwest Territories' rich cultural heritage in 2016.

The recent opening of "We Took Care of Them," an exhibit on Aboriginal special constables in the Northwest Territories, illustrates the centre's key role in the stewardship of northern heritage and history. Our staff worked in partnership with community members, the Department of Justice, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to develop this exhibit over a period of three years. In the spirit of reconciliation, "We Took Care of Them" documents, shares and honours the stories of the Indigenous men and women who helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police survive in the Northwest Territories. This exhibit has gained national interest.

Mr. Speaker, this past spring we achieved our mandate commitment to work with the Government of Canada towards a strengthened, multi-year Canada-Northwest Territories Co-operation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages. I am pleased to report that we received the most significant amount of funding that we have ever received to preserve, promote, and revitalize Indigenous languages in the North. The Department of Canadian Heritage has provided nearly $20 million over four years, which will allow us to develop key initiatives and strengthen our partnerships.

We have also fulfilled our mandate commitment to work with stakeholders to update the 2010 NWT Aboriginal Languages Plan: A Shared Responsibility. I announced earlier in the summer that the 2017 NWT Indigenous Languages Plan: A Shared Responsibility will soon have a robust action plan. Some of the highlights include increasing funding for Indigenous governments' regional language plans and greater support for the regional language coordinators.

We will be appointing a new territorial linguist to assist Indigenous governments in their work, investing further in the interpreter program, offering professional development, increasing funding to community radio stations for Indigenous language programming, and providing support to Indigenous language communities to deliver language and culture programming.

In the junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system, we are piloting a new Indigenous languages curriculum called Our Languages. In those schools with successful core Indigenous language programs, students will hear and use Indigenous languages during their school routines and in interactions with staff and other students. Additionally, Canadian Heritage increased the funding for French-language service delivery and provided $22.5 million over the next four years. We have made significant strides with our francophone partners in delivering services across government in French.

We are continuing to fulfill our mandate commitment to work collaboratively with the Northwest Territories francophone community to support French-language education. Working with our partners in the junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system, we broke ground this past summer on a gymnasium at Ecole Allain St. Cyr, due for completion in the fall of 2018. Today marked the annual Minister's Culture and Heritage Circle. As you are aware, this is an annual award ceremony celebrating those individuals and organizations that have promoted, helped preserve, and contributed to the culture and heritage across the North. The award recipients have joined us here in the gallery today.

Mr. Speaker, across the territory, Northerners understand the importance of collaboration toward common goals. In the Government of the Northwest Territories Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework, our government envisions a strong, adaptive, and forward-thinking territory, whose people are healthy and capable, rooted in their heritage and vibrant in their diverse cultural practices. I am proud of the work the department has achieved with our partners in the fields of culture, heritage, and languages to meet our commitments to the Legislative Assembly and to the people of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, our territory is blessed with a resilient, ingenious manufacturing community. Manufacturing is a small but important industry that has high potential for the Northwest Territories and is an important part of our government's commitment to diversify our economy to give our residents more opportunity for success. Manufacturing contributes tens of millions of dollars annually and contributes nearly 150 jobs to our economy each year. The expansion and growth of our manufacturing sector often offers a means to diversify the economy and encourage greater economic development and investment.

Our government committed in the mandate to expanding our manufacturing sector, identify potential areas of growth, promote and market products manufactured in the NWT, and aid in professional and technological advancement of the industry. Mr. Speaker, this work began last week with the announcement of the public and stakeholder engagement that will inform our strategy and development. We have released a discussion paper and launched engagement on all fronts, including in-person sessions in our regional centres, online discussion forums, and will accept input via e-mail, telephone and mail.

Our first community visits were held this week in Inuvik and Norman Wells. We were happy to hear from the residents about their visions and ideas around manufacturing in the Beaufort Delta and the Sahtu. In coming weeks, we will also be visiting Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Hay River, our territory's manufacturing hub. In addition to soliciting input from the public, we will be reaching out to the manufacturers themselves, the industries that they service, other departments of government, and Regular Members to ensure a collaborative vision is created that will benefit a growing sector. All of the perspectives we receive will be compiled with the help of subject-matter experts to define the strategy that strikes a realistic and achievable balance between what we need to do, want to do, and can do.

Mr. Speaker, we are investigating and researching the market factors that determine what needs to be done. Our dialogues and public engagement sessions and industry meetings will identify stakeholder wishes. Facility tours and industry meetings will demonstrate what is and can be done. The strategy we develop will need to include ways to expand the manufacturing base, identify potential growth areas, promote and market locally manufactured products, and support the professional and technological advancement of manufacturing in the NWT. The drafting of the strategy is the first step, but it is an important one. I look forward to updating Members of this House as our work moves forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Lands.

Mr. Speaker, having a clear, consistent, and predictable approach to how the Government of the Northwest Territories manages the land it is responsible for is important to all land users and stakeholders in the territory. It is also important that the people we serve understand how land in the NWT is administered and that we continually evaluate opportunities and issues associated with various types of land tenure.

Mr. Speaker, to help address one of these issues, that of equity leases, the Department of Lands revised the Land Pricing Policy, which had not seen substantial amendments since it was originally established in 1997. One of the changes made to the policy was the removal of the equity lease provision on Commissioner's land. With these changes, which came into effect in June, the government is no longer offering equity leases.

Equity leases served a purpose at the time, but over the course of 30 years their provisions have been interpreted differently amongst approximately 240 leaseholders, and have created implementation challenges for the Department of Lands. Now, under a new era of land management in our territory, we are working on new approaches that better fit modern, societal, and institutional land needs. In support of these changes, I have directed the Department of Lands to conduct a review of all equity leases across the Northwest Territories, and to examine potential paths forward. These options may include the possibility of offering fee simple title to existing equity leaseholders, where appropriate, pending the conclusion of this review and consultation process.

I want to make sure that individuals with existing equity leases which may be coming to maturity know that they can continue to use their land under the present terms and conditions of their leases. Staff with the department will be officially communicating this approach to individual leaseholders in the near future.

In support of the many commitments linked to land management in our mandate, the department is also developing an inventory of available land for agricultural purposes on territorial lands to support the Agricultural Strategy led by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Processes and procedures are being created related to land tenure so that applications for agricultural purposes can be considered a commercial/industrial activity under the general lease application process.

Mr. Speaker, the work that we are doing to develop land tenure approaches will create a more solid land management system for residents, businesses, and industry. As we take on multiple initiatives to advance this goal, we will strive to make sure that our practices and approaches are clear, fair, and understood by all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 7, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I received a package of 69 letters written by inmates at the North Slave Correctional Complex. The letters were sent to me for distribution to other Members and the Minister of Justice. The letters were accompanied by an eight-page open letter to the Justice Minister, and I want to reflect on that letter today. The letter writer states a fact that's indisputable: the courts and jails see the same individuals over and over again, yet "most inmates yearn for a better life and desperately want to be clean and sober." The writer goes on to say, "We have firsthand knowledge of how ineffectual this prison system is; it's just a warehouse for people to bide their time, so when inmates are released, they have learned virtually nothing."

Mr. Speaker, according to information from the department, inmates are offered a suite of programs that address underlying issues in their lives, such as the use of violence and substance abuse, as well as educational opportunities. The letter writer reports changes in recent months, including the loss of the recreation officer position and the "dismantling of the arts and crafts room." He also says that people wait months for their first consultation with a psychiatrist. If true, when combined with their lack of access to the large yard for more than a year, it's clear that inmates have a lot of unproductive time on their hands. Because this input has been received across a wide front to many Members, and because the catalogue of issues is both broad and detailed, I'll be looking for a comprehensive response from the Minister, more comprehensive than the response he provided in his statement to the House yesterday.

Mr. Speaker, in addition, I will be seeking to understand why the feedback and complaints processes in place, including the inmate council referred to by the Minister, were not engaged to respond to these concerns, and whether these processes need to be adapted to respond to inmate grievances in a more meaningful way. I will have questions for the Minister. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government's decision to legalize recreational marijuana use in 2018 comes with a lot of questions. I'm happy to see the residents of the NWT voicing their concerns through the GNWT's Cannabis Engagement Survey, which has received high volumes of participation. This form of individual consultation is very productive in finding what people want. With this survey delivered to residents directly, it provides a great platform for residents to openly and honestly voice their opinions and concerns surrounding the legalization of cannabis.

I would like to see outreach from the Department of Justice to leaders of the communities so that they can get together to have their own discussions. Band leaders and community elders are always concerned with new policy and how it will impact the members of their communities and the future generations.

I am looking forward to the future public meetings in the communities so that leadership and residents are assured adequate consultation occurred before legislation on recreational marijuana is passed. I will reiterate that the online survey and other websites have a great starting point, but that should not be the only action taken. My constituents in remote communities with limited Internet access and knowledge also require adequate consultation, and we must accommodate to their settings. Mr. Speaker, it is also essential that the Department of Health and Social Services along with the Department of Education provide strategies to inform the public of the health risks related to marijuana use. These need to be in the form of community assemblies, with information packages available.

This legislation is new Canada-wide, and even in some of the most successful cities there needs to be education on the use of recreational cannabis. Therefore, for our remote communities proper action plans on education and awareness are critical. Mr. Speaker, in a video from CBC News Manitoba the company Delta-9 Biotech was highlighted as a local first licensed pot producer and now medical marijuana distributor. This company provides 1,800 customers across Canada. This results in the lack of need of out-of-province production. It also provides a number of local employment opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. A separate news story from Global News reported an increase in the economy for the town of Smith Falls, Ontario. This increase is thanks to Tweed Incorporated, a medical cannabis producer that started production in an out-of-commission Hershey chocolate factory. So far this company has employed 300 individuals and had posted for 70 more jobs.

Mr. Speaker, these new stories highlight how the legislation of recreational cannabis will create new industry, meaning new jobs and economy growth. It is also highlights that we do not need to import this product and that it should be grown locally and distributed. Reports suggest that by the time cannabis is legal it will take growers two to three years before being able to supply the demands. I'll have questions for the Minister later on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, inmates at the North Slave Correctional Complex are calling out for help. They have put their concerns on paper and distributed them to the media and Members of the Assembly, as well as to the Minister of Justice.

The inmates' complaints include the cancelling of recreational programs; the withdrawal of academic upgrading programs; the absence of cultural programs; and no access to the outdoor yard for over a year. Inmates say they're not being rehabilitated, they are being warehoused. I appreciate that the Minister recognized the unprecedented nature of this problem and addressed the Assembly yesterday. However, Mr. Speaker, the Minister's statement, when reviewed alongside the reports in the, in fact leaves more questions than answers.

The Minister says that there is a "well-established process" for inmates to air concerns and grievances. Yet the inmates choose not to use the inmate advisory committee. Mr. Speaker, if it is a well-established process, inmates would not go around it. The Minister says, "We have not reduced programs available at the NSCC," but the deputy minister confirms that the GED high school equivalency program is no longer available, and he is not sure why. The recreation officer position has been eliminated and responsibilities redistributed among existing staff, and the outside yard, as I indicated, has been closed for 14 months.

So inmates write, "We have no programs, no recreation officer. All we do is sit in the pod and do nothing." Another says, "I want to learn my tradition and practice my tradition, but do not have access to drumming or smudging." Problems with the correctional system are not new, Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General identified exactly these problems in 2015. While the Minister claims most of these problems have been addressed, the letter campaign would seem to question that.

Mr. Speaker, our correctional centres are not supposed to be warehouses. Yes, we need facilities where offenders can pay their debt to society, but we also need to offer them a chance to learn from their mistakes, to receive guidance and support, to develop skills to deal with personal issues and traumas, and to emerge as more capable, better-adjusted members of society. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

When so many inmates raise their voices about a lack of service, something is seriously wrong, Mr. Speaker.

In spite of the Minister's words to assure us this is being managed, it seems clear: we are failing the people who need an effective correctional system. We are failing their futures, their families, and their communities. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I, too, received letters from my constituents who are incarcerated at the North Slave Correctional Complex. The inmates are asking for things like a place to do arts and crafts. They are asking to have a trainer hired who is skilled, to prevent injuries while they are working out indoors.

Mr. Speaker, the inmates need traditional Aboriginal activities to help them with their healing. They are there because they had issues, and they would like an opportunity to work on those issues. They need educational programs to give them a chance to integrate back into society and become public, productive members of society. Mr. Speaker, my inmate constituents want a chance for self-improvement. However, during the last few months, many programs and opportunities were taken away. In addition, Mr. Speaker, they are asking for more case workers and more training targeted to trades, and even being allowed to go outside.

Mr. Speaker, one inmate even indicated that many Indigenous inmates are lactose intolerant and is asking for alternatives to milk for program supplements. Mr. Speaker, on February 24, 2016, I made a Member's statement about the cost to society of housing inmates. I believe at that point it was already over $250 per day, per inmate. Eighty-five to 90 per cent of the inmates are in there because of alcohol- and drug-related charges. I spoke about the disproportionate number of Indigenous inmates and how we need to provide programs to support them and return them to mainstream society. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recent news: the town council of Norman Wells was replaced with an independent administrator under the direction of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, works with local community governments. Decentralization of resources provides community governments with the authority to achieve their goals and objectives.

Mr. Speaker, developing transparency, order to our community, noncompliance with the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, these principles will lead to my conclusion later. I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago I spoke in this House about the importance of honouring the spirit and intent of Treaties 8 and 11 by bringing the Dehcho process to a successful conclusion. Until we have settled negotiations on our lands, I think I will continue to have an unsettled feeling in my heart. It is a feeling that I have carried with me, and my people with carried as well, for far too long.

Mr. Speaker, most of the First Nations people in the NWT are descendants of the leaders who negotiated Treaties 8 and 11 in 1899 and 1921. These treaties were entered into in a spirit of friendship and cooperation and on the ideal of nation-to-nation, and it is important that this spirit be honoured today in the modern relationships between our respective governments, whether federal, territorial, or Aboriginal.

I am concerned that the people of the Dehcho are missing out on the benefits of modern treaty arrangements so long as their rights to Dene lands are unresolved. Earlier this month, Parliament's finance committee held consultations in Yellowknife. They heard from the national chief of the Dene nation, Mr. Bill Erasmus, that funding for Dene people should be provided directly to Aboriginal governments rather than being funnelled through the GNWT. This follows on the heels of announcement made this summer by Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett that the federal government is planning to make changes in its funding model to First Nations, which has not been updated in decades. These changes will allow First Nations governments to carry over unused monies from one year to the next and will offer more funding stability for larger, multi-year infrastructure and community development projects.

Mr. Speaker, those Aboriginal governments in the NWT, we have settled lands, resources, and self-government agreements are poised to move into the future and to control their own finances and their own destinies. I urge the GNWT with all that I have to ensure that my Dehcho people and our Akaitcho friends are not left behind while the GNWT continues to devolve and evolve.

It is important that the protections provided to treaty rights and Aboriginal title under Section 35 of the Constitution Act are respected. This is important for the well-being of our people and communities, for reconciliation, for the future prosperity of all Dene people in the NWT. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has recently come to light through an unprecedented letter-writing campaign by the inmates of the North Slave Correctional Complex that things are very wrong with our correctional system. A number of my honourable colleagues have spoken about this already today, and I think it is important we shed light on this because it is an area of public interest. The foundation of our justice system has always been based on rehabilitation and giving Northerners a second chance after they take responsibility for their actions. However, inmates are now telling us it is becoming harder and harder to successfully rehabilitate themselves. We have heard reports of program cuts that have removed opportunities for basic education, recreation, and healing programs.

To make matters worse, I have recently been provided with new information that reveals a similar situation for our correctional service. Officer training, equipment, and staff budgets have been cut. Officers are being forced to work exhausting shifts without relief, required to provide recreational support without proper training, and the programs offered to inmates are being rushed to boost participation numbers. Overcrowding remains an issue, and morale among staff is low.

Mr. Speaker, our peace officers are the front line of our justice system. We owe it to them to ensure they are safe, supported, and respected in their roles, just as we must ensure inmates are allowed to seek the help they need to become productive members of society. We cannot continue on supporting a system that is not properly resourced, where budgetary constraints seem to be the driving force. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice to see if fiscal considerations are withdrawing support and services for inmates and support for our correction officers. We owe it to them to give them the support they need to do a very demanding job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues. The discussion paper released at the outset of the Mineral Resources Act process presents virtually no best practices or lessons learned from other jurisdictions, no analysis, and no recommendations for changes. The late release of Mr. Bauer's study throws into doubt how ITI can have a meaningful and informed Mineral Resources Act delivered in 2018. There are many questions for our Mining Minister and I will start later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of this sitting, our last of the 2017, I am looking to the winter ahead of us. For residents of the Mackenzie Delta, that means a winter without ferry services. I have spoken to the Minister about this before. We have been told that Inuvik won't run short of fuel, that frequent closures on the Dempster made ferry operations too pricey, and that lighter equipment will help the Department of Infrastructure accelerate ice road construction, but the reality of our concerns about the cost of living, travel between communities, heavy commercial traffic, and potential fuel shortages haven't gone away.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway is going to open also on November 15th. Many Members here will be here to mark the occasion. Well, Mr. Speaker, it would be more than a little ironic if NWT residents and prospective tourists couldn't access this momentous day because of a lack of marine and ice road options barred their way. I will be monitoring ferry use for the rest of the season and keeping an eye on the private and commercial traffic that makes use of the ice road. If the Department of Infrastructure intends to proceed on its course, then it must also be prepared to see the effects its cost savings have on the people on the ground.

As I have said before, in a time where the government wants to be seen investing in infrastructure, in community connections, where the government wants to grow tourism, and where the government says it wants to help small communities, a decision like this sends the wrong message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2015 the Auditor General of Canada released a report on corrections in the NWT. It stated that both the North Slave Correctional Complex and the Ford Smith Correctional Centre suffer from serious deficiencies in case management, which limits efforts to rehabilitate inmates and prepare them for release back to the community. This was again highlighted by a recent letter writing campaign. About half of the men in custody at NSCC wrote to their MLAs and described the lack of programs and activities available to them which would assist them to steer their lives in a better direction.

Some people might say that, "Well, if you are convicted of a crime, you deal with the consequences, end of story." I would respond to that by first noting that most inmates at NSCC haven't been convicted. They are actually awaiting trial in remand. Second, sitting around for days, weeks, or months on end doesn't address the factors that caused the person to wind up in jail, and that is precisely what we need to do. We need to help inmates get their lives on track and ensure they don't return to jail.

It costs over $100,000 to house an inmate for one year in the NWT. Imagine if the government developed, funded, and delivered programs that helped even a handful of residents from reoffending each year; and better yet, what if those programs helped people gain skills that allow them to gain meaningful employment? That is an investment in our people that would pay significant financial and social dividends. I think we all know, Mr. Speaker, that the primary reason we have so many residents in jail is because of the high rate of substance abuse in the Northwest Territories and its underlying factors. That is why I was encouraged by the recent visit to the Guthrie House in Nanaimo by the Minister of Justice and his departmental staff. Guthrie House is a therapeutic community located on the grounds of the Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

The therapeutic community model considers substance abuse as a symptom of much broader problems in a residential setting and uses holistic treatment approaches that have an impact on every aspect of a resident's life. The main goal is to change established patterns of negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that lead to substance abuse and criminal behaviours. Mr. Speaker, this type of program, adapted to our unique situation, is exactly what we need in the Northwest Territories. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice about what he learned during his visit to Guthrie House and suggestions about where we could locate this type of facility in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recently spoke to the Members of the Canadian Parliamentary Association about sustainability in Arctic communities. As we look ahead to the months and years to come and in the Northwest Territories, from the opening from the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway next month to worrying and accelerating erosion along our Arctic coastline, sustainability, Mr. Speaker, real, practical sustainability, is also part of the conversation we need to be having here in the Legislative Assembly.

My message to the Canadian Parliamentary Association is the same today. It is core to my beliefs and to my life as an Indigenous person and as a public servant. It is that ensuring healthy, sustainable Indigenous communities must begin with self-determination and sovereignty. Indigenous people have historically suffered from the twin burdens of colonization and dispossession, these contriving to keep us from living full, free lives and from pursuing our full potential. Our traditional territory sustained us for millennia, yet today, under modern governance, many of us are housing and food insecure, Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General of Canada's report on climate change in the Northwest Territories will be tabled today.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that will prompt not only some hard questions, but some serious actions from this government on what it will take for this government to lead our territory and each of our 33 communities to a viable, sustainable future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. I am pleased to recognize that we have with us Mr. Neil Frank Ferrer, Consul General of the Philippines. Welcome to the NWT. Masi for being here with us. Also, of course, our very own Carmen Moore, Chief of Protocol. Thanks for being with us. I cannot forget Mr. Anthony J. Whitford, who is with us here at the table, the man of many roles; former Commissioner, former Speaker, former Minister, former Member, former Sergeant-at-Arms, honorary Clerk at the Table, and Member of the Order of NWT. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Anthony J. Whitford to the House this afternoon. Masi for being with us.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we held the Ministers' Culture and Heritage Circle Ceremony in the Great Hall, and joining us in the gallery are some of our reward recipients. I would just like to recognize our youth recipient Mr. Dang-Dang Gruben, our individual recipient Ms. Kiera-Dawn Kolson, our elder recipient, Ms. Catherine Bell Sanguez, our group winners the JBT Dance Group out of Fort Smith, and our Minister's choice Dene Nahjo. Members, please join me in recognizing and thanking our award recipients and their families for their contributions, commitment, and leadership to culture and leadership in your own communities and throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a number of constituents from my riding, Aggie Hardisty from Jean Marie, Catherine Belle-Sanguez from Jean Marie/Trout River Fort Simpson, as well as April Bell, who is now a corporal. Congratulations on your promotion. As well, Dang-Dang Gruben who is one of my youth ambassadors I used to work with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some folks here as well. I would like to first recognize our interpreters from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh: Mr. Tommy Unka in the Denesuline language; Mary Rose Sundberg, Wiilideh; and also I would like to recognize the two pages from Lutselk'e, River Marlowe and Ashton Catholique, and their chaperone, Hanna Catholique; and James Marlowe, I believe is also in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two constituents of the Great Slave riding, Brendan Kolson as well as Kiera-Dawn Kolson, one of the award recipients today. Welcome to the gallery.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce my constituents Kyla Kakfwi-Scott and Amos Scott and congratulate them on their award. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like you, I want to recognize a man of many hats, also a resident of the Yellowknife North riding, Mr. Tony Whitford, and hopefully he never becomes a former resident of the riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize my friend Corporal April Bell of the RCMP. Thank you for your service, Corporal. Also my constituent Deneze Nakehk'o, who has done great work with Dene Nahjo. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Dang-Dang Gruben. Mr. Speaker, I have travelled all over this world, and I see a young man like Dang-Dang travelling around this country drum dancing for Inuvik, and showing a good example to youth, not just in our region, but across Canada actually. I would just like to commend Dang-Dang today, and travel while you still can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for joining us here today. It is always great to have an audience as part of the proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice regarding the recent influx of complaints from the NSCC inmates. As I mentioned earlier, an open letter accompanying a total of 69 letters containing general and specific complaints has been received by the Minister and many of us.

To start with, can the Minister explain what processes and mechanisms are in place to receive and resolve complaints at NSCC? Mahsi.

Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that monthly meetings are held with the Inmate Advisory Committee at NSCC, the IAC, to discuss inmate concerns and other issues or requests. I understand that there was a recent meeting, and at that meeting there was no insight received by the staff, at least, to the concerns presented in these letters, but there are provisions for the inmates to meet and air their concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister for that response. It seems that the complaint mechanisms involve having the inmates talk to the very people who they may, in fact, have complaints about. Is there any third-party complaint process where inmates can go to someone who is not directly involved and make their concerns known?

I am not certain, Mr. Speaker, of any formal process. Clearly, if there were human rights violations or serious problems of that type, concern could be made to human rights. Legal counsel could be contacted and they could make their concerns known to me.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister has given any thought to having some kind of a third-party complaints process. It just seems to me that, if the usual route is for the complaints to go right back to the warden, it is not likely to result in a resolution. Short of going through the legal route through the human rights process, would he consider another third-party method of assessing complaints?

I had not really considered this idea. Perhaps it does have some merit. I had been under the impression that the Inmate Advisory Committee, IAC, meetings were working well, where there was a full and open discussion regarding issues. Yes, we can certainly consider that idea. I don't think currently we would have a process in place, but I would be willing to look at it.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's willingness to look at how these complaints are dealt with and how they might be dealt with more effectively. My final question has to do with programming. We understand the recreation position has been cut, that the arts and crafts room has been closed, and outdoor access is limited by the issues related to fencing. What kind of recreational programming is in place for inmates? Thank you.

I understand that two recreation officer positions are being converted into correction officer positions. This allows for greater interaction with the correction officers and inmate in a different and more relaxed environment. Corrections officers from each of the pods provide supervision at recreation activities as part of their regular duties. I understand that that would include as follows: each pod has access to a gymnasium daily; inmates have access to the visiting room/multipurpose room outside of the pods on a daily basis; and inmates continue to have access to exercise equipment, basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey. The manner in which the programs are delivered may have changed, but the programs are still available. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I was talking about legalization of marijuana and some of the issues and the consultation process. I have to congratulate the department on the work they have been doing. However, I know we have gone into nine communities, but has the department looked into going into some of the smaller communities? I mean, I know Fort Liard was on the list, but smaller communities like Wrigley, Sambaa K'e, and that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, of course, we have just completed a successful public engagement program in which we received 1,160 responses and 200 people participated in our community engagement meetings. In the communities that my staff visited, two representatives of small communities were included; Tsiigehtchic, where alcohol is prohibited, and Fort Liard, which has alcohol restrictions in place. A number of communities were visited by the staff. I think it represented a good cross-section of the communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Two communities out of 27, I don't think that is a good representation. Will the Minister look at talking to these small communities? Even though maybe they are not going to go and consult with them, maybe they can write a letter to these smaller communities and ask them to get some feedback in there. We are talking about some of the very small, small communities, and this will have a huge impact on them.

As I mentioned, we received 1,160 responses to our online survey. Anybody from across the Northwest Territories or, in fact, from outside the Territories, if they wished, could participate. In addition, we did write to Aboriginal organizations seeking their input. We only have a limited amount of time, as we all know, as the federal legislation will be in force starting July 1st next year. We visited a cross-section of communities, admittedly not every community. Between the visits to the community and the many submissions made online, I think we did receive a good cross-section of opinion from our territory.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess he is missing the point. Some of these communities don't have access to the internet system and that. That is a concern for me. I am hoping that he will get his department to at least write to these communities and ask them for some input. On to my next question: has the department consulted NWT businesses already selling medical marijuana or cannabis to NWT? If not, why?

If there are producers in the NWT, they are outside the legal supply chain. The only exception is that individuals with a prescription can grow cannabis for themselves and also for one other designated person also with a prescription. During the public engagement period, we sent 120 letters out to a range of stakeholders throughout the NWT, inviting them to respond, that included the Chamber of Commerce and the Medical Association.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am talking about the medical cannabis, not the homegrown stuff that may or may not be out there. Mr. Speaker, has the department looked at the thought of developing a homegrown organization to grow cannabis in the Northwest Territories? We have some of the best soil in the country and availability. We can get the seeds from somewhere else. Has the Minister looked at this as an option for people in there? I know in my riding we have some great land that we can use. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you for the interesting question. Essentially, the production of marijuana is a federal issue. Those who wish to manufacture marijuana will have to be licensed by the federal government. They would have to approach the federal government. Presumably, they would have to make an application showing how they could ensure the safety of the product and so on. That could happen. I understand that even fairly small organizations might be able to avail themselves of this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Justice some questions on these inmate concerns and also correctional concerns for the facility. On October 12th, the Minister sent the honourable Members of this House an e-mail that indicated the inmate concerns were inaccurate. A week later, the deputy minister of the Department of Justice went into the press and confirmed that some of these concerns were, in fact, accurate. I want to ask the Minister about GED Program. He has both told us that the Adult Education Program is present and inmates can access it. His department has contradicted that and say it is not currently available. Will the Minister set the record straight and tell us if education opportunities are available at the facility for inmates? Thank you.

Minister of Justice.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Further research on this issue has revealed that the department continues to offer the GED to any NWT resident who wishes to take the program, wishes to study and take the examination. It is a set of standardized tests that, when passed, provides certification that the test taker has Canadian-level academic skills at the grade 9 to 10 level. It continues to be an academic option that is available to inmates at NSCC. Thank you.

I would like to thank the Minister for setting the record straight. It can be very confusing when we have two different narratives emerging out there when we are trying to help people with their issues. Mr. Speaker, the Minister also said no programs or staff positions have been cut in his e-mail, yet we have heard that recreation positions have been cut and that recreation is not currently being offered. Can the Minister set the record straight on that? Have there been cuts to recreation programs and positions in the Department of Justice?

As mentioned previously, two recreation officer positions are being converted to correction officer positions. I don't think there will be any change in the availability of the recreation programs to the inmates.

I am still a bit confused about this. Who is currently providing recreation to the inmates, and what kind of training have they received, if any?

As I understand it, corrections officers are providing this service, and they have gone through the necessary training.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I have heard through sources is that is not, in fact, true, that no additional training has been offered and, in fact, that the training manager position that was created to assist in the Auditor General's recommendations that increased training be offered to the correctional service has been cut, as well. I would like to ask the Minister: how many training officers are currently in the correctional service and what training programs are they offering to our correctional officers? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not certain of the number of training officers, but I do know that there has not been any cut in training overall. While we're always looking into programs, there is no financial cutback that has reduced the amount of training or programs at the facility. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member's statement, I, too, have questions for the Minister of Justice on the correction facilities.

Since my Member's statement on February 24, 2016, where I inquired about programs for corrections and the Minister at that time laid out the amount of programs that were available to the inmates at North Slave Correctional Complex, I'd like to ask the Minister: what programs have been added since that date, February 24, 2016, to date? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I can advise that since 2016 the SAM, the Substance Abuse Management program, has been delivered in the various correctional facilities. Six deliveries of the SAM program have been delivered at the North Slave Correctional Complex and a seventh delivery was scheduled to begin in September 2017. There is also a similar program or identical program being offered at South Mackenzie, and two full deliveries have been completed in Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, again, my understanding is that recidivism is still a big issue at North Slave, or all the correctional facilities in the NWT for that matter. I'd like to ask if the Department of Justice tracks the inmates to see if recidivism is still a big issue in those facilities. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, of course the inmates' past histories will be known by the staff at the correctional facilities, and it is clear from what I know from my past that recidivism is a tremendous problem in all of our facilities, not only here, but throughout the country, so the issue is: are we providing the necessary programs to reduce recidivism?

As I mentioned a few minutes ago, there are some new programs that we are offering. We are hoping to reduce recidivism because there will not be much success in our overall system if the same people keep coming back. We are aware of the problem and we are attempting to address it.

Mr. Speaker, we see in our letters that we received, all of us in here, including the Members from the Executive Council, receiving letters from correction inmates. I'd like to ask the Minister if he would meet with the inmates in these various corrections facilities. Thank you.

No, I wasn't contemplating meeting personally with the inmates, although I have met with many of them before in my previous life. I think what's important is that the inmates and the Members of this House know that we are treating this matter very, very seriously. I have directed the department to respond to each of these letters without delay, and, in fact, the warden has already started to have direct conversations with the inmates who have raised the concerns set out in their letters.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that upwards of 90 per cent of the inmates are Indigenous, but I think maybe the number has been going down. That that percentage has been going down over the years, but that is my understanding that it's very high. I'd like to ask the Minister if the department, and specifically corrections, follows some sort of affirmative action type of policy. Not necessarily the affirmative action that we have and that we're using for recruitment of public service people, but some sort of program which will give inmates the representation at corrections. Some people who work with them from their cultures and their own tradition and so on, to see if that type of program is in place to maybe assist in a way so that the individual inmates are not returning to the correction facilities all the time. Thank you

The department is aware of the fuller representation of Aboriginal people amongst our inmates. Aboriginal counsellors are employed at both North Slave and the South Mackenzie Correctional Centres, so we are attempting to have culturally based programs that will hopefully assist the inmates to get back on the right path and avoid reappearing in our facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice as well today with regard to the conditions at the North Slave Correctional Complex. Mr. Speaker, we know that the main yard at the centre has been closed for over a year now since the escape back in August of 2016. Can the Minister speak to the cultural programs that inmates receive since the yard has been closed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. We are hoping that area that the Member opposite spoke of can be soon reopened. We originally went out to contractors to provide some more security. Unfortunately, the bids came in at an amount way above the amount expected. We do, however, expect to have that rectified by the end of the year.

The facility does have three traditional areas for the delivery of programs to inmates; one located inside the facility and the other two outdoors within the secure perimeter. These areas are used for smudging, one-on-one counselling, and sharing circles. At present, unfortunately, the two outside yards are not accessible due to repairs; however, once the repairs are completed these outside areas will once again be utilized for traditional activities led by a traditional counsellor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to take a moment to maybe move off inmate concerns and, as my colleague from Kam Lake raised earlier, some aspect around concerns with corrections and potentially corrections staff. So I want to go down the line of questioning relevant to first of all are we adequately staffed.

Can the Minister describe maybe the minimum staffing numbers at the centre and confirm that there are enough, in fact, full-time staff assigned to each shift to meet the requirement?

Mr. Speaker, I don't have the numbers of staff or their shifts in front of me, but I am given to understand that there is adequate staffing at the facility.

Then I would like to ask the Minister, we know that obviously corrections is a very high-risk, and high-stress environment is probably a better term. Can the Minister explain what training corrections officers receive on an ongoing basis to equip them to deal with the challenges of this job?

Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to the individual programs that corrections officers might take, but I believe that they are up to a Canadian standard. Clearly, ongoing training is required. I understand that there has been no cut in the training program.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then maybe what I will ask the Minister instead is: can the Minister then describe how training and skill levels are monitored? Not what training is being provided, but can he describe how training and skill levels are being monitored to ensure that each shift is staffed with an adequately trained corrections staff?

I am certain that the senior staff at the facility does monitor these things and does review the training and the training needed for all of the staff at the correctional facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned in my statement on the principles of oversight and public interest and accountability, I support the actions taken by the Minister of MACA in placing an independent administrator to run the town of Norman Wells. My first question is: what is the process going forward for the town of Norman Wells? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to start by saying that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs really does honour our municipal and our Aboriginal governments, and we do the best we can to provide support to them. Sometimes it does come to a place, though, that we have to look at providing either additional support or actually taking over council. It was with regret that we actually stepped in and went into administration with the council. How we are moving forward, over the next couple of weeks I am going to be appointing a long-term administrator for the town. This person, there are quite a few bylaws and policies that they need to review and revise, policies around procurement, around code of conduct, around just how the governance of the council works, so that will be their main priority at this point.

The problem with this town council is that they have an election coming up in October 2018, which is a year away, so, once the temporary administrator goes in and deals with the policies and bylaws that we need to amend or put in place, then we will have to make an assessment on whether we do an interim council or if we actually hold off until the legislative requirement for an election in October of 2018.

I thank the Minister for that reply. People really want to know what is happening, what is the moving-forward plan. Communication is a vital instrument. Once the administrator is appointed, will the public be made aware through, say, a public meeting? Will there be a public meeting to show the schedule of events and timeframe with the general taxpayer public community?

We do want to engage the public, the community members of Norman Wells, as much as possible within this process, so, yes, as soon as the decision was made and we relayed it to the municipal council that we were going into administration, we did hold a public meeting. We will continue to hold public meetings ongoing to keep the public aware, also to get their feedback into how we should be proceeding. So, yes, we will do as much public consultation as possible throughout this term.

I thank the Minister for making that comment for the listeners out there in the community. My next question is: leading up to the events and the process leading to that conclusion on the decision, there was a municipal inspection report done. Is that report going to be made available to the public residents?

The municipal inspection report was actually done on my direction as the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. That report in its entirety will be held in confidentiality, although we do have a summary of the report that is available on the Municipal and Community Affairs website if Members are interested in accessing that.