Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 84-18(3): Historical Case Unit within the RCMP" and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 96-18(3): Gangs in Correctional Centres in the NWT." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 8, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Mr. Paul Parker of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment as member of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective immediately, for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 8, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Ms. Gail Cyr of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment as a member of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, effective immediately, for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, March 8, 2018, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that the Legislative Assembly supports the goal of increasing women's representation in the Legislative Assembly to 20 per cent by 2023 and 30 per cent by 2027; and, further, that Members of this Legislative Assembly work together and individually to identify and implement a wide range of strategies, including positive action, public debate, and training and mentoring for women as leaders to achieve these goals. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Committee Report 4-18(3), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Adult Residential Addictions Treatment Facilities Tour 2017; Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns; Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process; Minister's Statement 32-18(3), Update on the Northwest Territories Disability Framework and Action Plan; Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019. By the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 7-18(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider business before the House, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to consider Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019 with the Department of Justice as the department under consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will consider the document after a brief recess.

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I will now Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 63-18 (3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, and look at the Department of Justice, which begins on page 269. I will turn to the Minister of Justice for any opening statements. Minister Sebert.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $2.7 million or 2.2 per cent over the 2017-2018 Main Estimates.

In our mandate, our government defines commitments to support the RCMP. We recognize the integral part they play to keep our families safe, including the reduction of violence in family homes and supporting community priorities. We will continue to work collaboratively with the RCMP to find innovative ways to address operational and financial pressures in providing police services throughout our territory. This continues to be a priority of the department.

On this front, these estimates include just over $2.1 million in increases to support the Territorial Police Services Agreement. This includes $304,000 of initiatives funding to establish a Historical Case Unit to focus on unsolved murdered and missing person cases, and $289,000 in forced growth to add two RCMP officers for the Hay River detachment to meet public safety requirements and the needs of the communities they serve. An additional $1.744 million in forced growth for the RCMP will support compensation increases; the vehicle management program; the accommodation program charge, which is funding for maintaining buildings and living quarters and replacing detachments; and funding for national programs rate increases.

In addition, these estimates include $224,000 of initiatives funding, along with a $213,000 transfer from the RCMP to support the sheriff's office, which will be assuming the responsibility for prisoner security in the courthouse in Yellowknife. This initiative will establish four new sheriff's officer positions and alleviate pressures on RCMP resources.

Other highlights of the proposed estimates include reductions of $584,000, $478,000 of which result from restructuring the court reporter program, and a $616,000 increase arising from federal funding for the Access to Justice Services and the Indigenous Justice programs.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly and will support the department in making progress on a range of initiatives such as continuing to implement innovative ways to prevent and reduce crime; bringing forward a bill to replace the Corrections Act that will strengthen the requirement for culturally appropriate programming and foster an environment that responds to offenders' needs for rehabilitation; and working with GNWT departments to ensure that the necessary policy, program, and legislative regimes are in place to support the legalization of cannabis in the Northwest Territories.

That concludes my opening remarks. I welcome questions from Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. I understand you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, you may join them at the witness table. Minister, will you please introduce your witnesses for the record?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Mandi Bolstad, director of Corporate Services, and to my right is Martin Goldney, deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Committee, we previously agreed to forgo opening comments. Does committee agree we again forego opening comments?

Thank you, committee. The departmental total can be found on page 273, but we will consider that after consideration of the detail in the activities. There are eight activities in the Department of Justice, the first beginning on page 276, community justice and policing. Do Members for comments or questions? Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I just wanted to be sure that this is the right segment of the budget to discuss EPOs. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Could the Minister please confirm?

Sure. Certainly. Yes, I confirm. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green, when you use an acronym, when anyone in the House uses an acronym, if you would please at least for the first time let us know what you're referring to? It makes it easier on those following along at home. Ms. Green.