Yes, Mr. Chair, thank you. I am here to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of just under $7.4 million or 5.8 percent over the 2019-2020 main estimates. These estimates support our fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.
Highlights of these proposed estimates include:
- $465,000 to develop a gun and gang violence strategy for the Northwest Territories, including funding for targeted risk-based interventions within our communities. This was made possible through a multi-year federal funding agreement with Canada. In this instance, we were able to leverage an opportunity for federal funding to address the needs of the NWT for increased youth support while also supporting a federal initiative;
- $827,000 in ongoing funding to continue the integrated case management program. This is an increase of $263,000 from the 2019-2020 pilot project funding, and that will provide stability to the program, based upon an evaluation of the program's staffing needs. The integrated case management approach ensures that residents with complex needs can better access GNWT services across the social-envelope, from housing to income support, while identifying barriers within government, in order to support system-wide changes to how government provides services. We have received positive preliminary results from a third-party program evaluation about the impact this service approach has on the residents it serves, and I am looking forward to seeing how those lessons learned can contribute to shaping GNWT service delivery as a whole;
- $5.6 million in forced growth, primarily relating to collective bargaining increases and increases to the RCMP Territorial Police Service Agreement; and
- a $240,000 investment for community-based victim services organizations, that will provide additional support to enhance the critical services they provide to survivors of crime within our communities.
These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:
- working with the RCMP to ensure that all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories have policing priority action plans in place, that are developed in partnership with community leadership, that are based on the specific needs of each community;
- supporting community justice committees in the development of alternatives to the criminal justice system, such as diversion programs, community service, and crime-prevention programs;
- making ongoing improvements to corrections programming to address the root causes that lead an individual to crime, integrate Indigenous culture and traditions, and support inmate reintegration back into their communities; and
- finalizing the transition of the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre in Hay River to a therapeutic community model, to ensure that participants in the program have person-centred care and much-needed support to turn their lives around.
That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I would be happy to answer any questions of the committee.