Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I didn't hear an answer in that, but I am going to push on. The Minister has said that this P3 project will save over 15 percent compared to a traditional model. Can the Minister provide an explanation or why this would be the case? Thank you.

I believe there was an answer to the Member's previous question in the response that I provided. They wanted to know why it was $411 million, and I explained that was through the 28-year contract with NorthStar Infrastructure. I think that was self-explanatory.

The 15 percent, compared to a traditional model, this represents a value for money that results from a P3 contract over if, the GNWT, we were to construct it, operate, and maintain the road as a GNWT project, we would pay in excess of 15 percent more than the cost that I had quoted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is some concern with the sugar-sweetened drinks tax. We have changed the name. It was going to be the "sugary tax," but we have decided to change it to the "sugar-sweetened" because there are a number of drinks that are sugary that are not sugar-sweetened.

The consultation, as the Member noted, ended in January 2019. We have had public meetings in a number of communities, and we have heard from members of the public. The report of the results of the public consultations is anticipated for March of 2019, so March would start tomorrow, the next day, and then March has 31 days, so we will try to have that document released. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Has the Minister learned anything from this consultation that he feels necessary to share with the House now, such as abandoning this unnecessary tax?

We are doing our due diligence. This was to investigate the introduction of a sugar-sweetened tax. It doesn't say the implementation of a sugar-sweetened tax. This was to investigate. We have heard from people across the Northwest Territories. Obviously, you have seen some of the comments in the news from one person saying that, "I am opposed to any type of tax, and I will continue to drink pop regardless," and somebody else calling it a "goofy tax," but this was just to investigate the introduction of the tax. It doesn't say we are going to implement it. So, being the consensus-type government that we are, and we hear the voices of the people, according to our code of conduct, we have to listen to what they say before a decision is made to proceed any further.

Is the Minister going to implement the tax, then?

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I need an interpreter. I said this was to investigate the introduction of a tax. It doesn't say that we are going to do the tax. There is still some work that needs to be done. We need to do our due diligence, and once we do that, a decision will be made at that time, based on all the information received, as to whether the tax will be going forward to implementation or not.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents want to know, and that is why I am asking these questions. Certainty is what we are looking for, is what they are looking for, what I am looking for. I appreciate the Minister is proceeding through the consultation, so, if there is a decision to implement a, what are we calling it, the "sugar-sweetened tax," when can this Assembly expect to see it? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents want to know, as well, as to the course of action that we are going, and I said that we will receive the feedback, and we will analyze the feedback, and then we will make a determination at the time whether this tax should proceed, the sugar-sweetened tax should proceed, and, until then, I mean it is hypothetical for me to say that yea or nay. I will wait until the results, and then, as most good governments do, we will make an informed decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement, I talked about the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, so my questions are to the Minister of Justice. Without a question here in the Northwest Territories, we have high rates of alcohol and drug abuse. My question is: the Northwest Territories Wellness Court is meant to support people with addictions or cognitive issues. Can the Minister tell me if our wellness courts currently support people with FASD? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The wellness court is an alternative to conventional criminal court. It focuses on the offender rather than the offence, and it seeks to address underlying issues of drug and alcohol addiction, mental health and cognitive challenges, and, certainly, it is an option for those with FASD. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Even so, although it may be a better option than regular courts, I am not convinced that wellness courts are the most suitable option for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Wellness court could create demand that offenders accept responsibility for the crimes that they have been charged with, and "be ready to put in a lot of hard work." For many people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, this just may not be a fair expectation. How have our courts programs have been adapted to suit the unique needs of people with FASD?

I do appreciate the Member opposite's concern about this very serious problem and his desire to see the best programming possible for people who find themselves in criminal court, particularly those suffering with FASD. I don't agree with the suggestion, however, that all people with FASD are not able to accept responsibility and put in a lot of hard work.

It is important to recognize that the programs are not necessarily for everybody and that the potential participants are assessed for suitability. The reality is that anyone pursuing the type of program offered is that success will require the willingness to accept responsibility and to work to change behaviour. That work may be hard, and I do appreciate that, and I do realize that it will be a challenge for those with FASD, as it is a challenge for those with other cognitive disabilities or addictions. However, this court, which has been in operation for more than five years, I believe, is a path for those who find themselves in these situations.

I think the department is on the right path. There is some innovation in terms of thinking, to try to decolonize the society here in the North, especially attitudes towards incarceration, and so can the Minister commit to considering the implementation of specialized courts programming for individuals with FASD in the NWT?

I can commit to the Member opposite that the wellness court program will be continually reviewed and improved. There is a steering committee for wellness court that includes representatives from the judiciary, Crown, and defence bar. Improvements can always be made, Mr. Speaker, and certainly we do want to make improvements to deal with those offenders who find themselves before the wellness court. I understand that more than a hundred people since 2014 have been referred to wellness court. The court, as I say, was set up in 2014. The first sitting was October 2^nd of that year, so I do regard the wellness court as being a success. I realize that there is a lot of work involved by everyone, including the offenders. We are always looking to improve the system.

Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the outset of responding to my first question, the Minister stated that, you know, there are options to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in terms of working with the department. As another program, aside from the alternative court process, what other options does he mean in terms of addressing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder? Mahsi.

We understand that this problem has many facets and that they are not always dealt with the best in the court system. Of course, I am speaking of the wellness court that can assist, in my view, in these types of situations with those who do have cognitive or mental issues or addiction issues. There are also other options, through Health and Social Services, where people can be assisted.

The wellness court is a specific court dealing with offenders that find themselves before the court system, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other programs that can't assist. Thank you.