I understand that they may not have been charged, but they were involved. When the drug bust happened, there were nine of them. You know, when there was a person of interest from the RCMP in Alberta just recently, they released the names of two individuals. This is, I would say, similar. I would ask the Minister of Justice if she is willing to sit down with the RCMP "G" Division commanding officer and seek out if there is any way that we can provide those names to the general public. My constituents, I want to protect them, and with those kinds of names, we should be releasing those to the community so they are aware of the drug traffickers coming in from the South, or even from the North, bringing illegal drugs to our communities. We need to put a stop to that. Could the Minister meet with the RCMP "G" Division chief commanding officer simply to ask those questions, if it's possible?

We're fortunate that we have a very positive working relationship with the RCMP. We do meet quite regularly with the commander of the "G" Division, and so I would have no difficulty making a commitment to raise the concerns on behalf of the communities of Monfwi in terms of stemming any tide of drugs reaching those communities. I would also note for the Member that the Minister does have policing priorities that are put out every year, every spring, and indeed it's my intention this year to reach out, and have begun the process of reaching out, to communities to ensure that the policing priorities that I issue are reflective of the concerns of the communities. I will speak to the Member further to ensure that policing priorities take into consideration the concerns and the issues that are being raised from these communities.

A lot of our communities do not have a RCMP detachment, and even my region, there are two communities that do not have an RCMP detachment. I fear for the communities, so I am glad the Minister is willing to meet with the chief commanding officer. I am hoping it's sooner than later. Winter roads are open, and all-weather road construction through Whati is happening. As soon as the Minister meets with the chief commanding officer, I would ask the Minister if she could provide the latest update on their discussion on this particular very important matter in my region.

I will certainly be keeping the Member up to date as I have conversations with the RCMP. I also believe that the RCMP would be themselves happy to engage directly with some of the committees of this House and to have that relationship about their operations, which is not within my area of responsibility. As for community safety going forward, that is a concern to the Department of Justice. There are a lot of different tools that can be used to increase and enhance community safety and community participation in the justice system, and I will continue to work towards those goals over the course of the Assembly.

Thank you, Minister of Justice. The time for oral questions has now expired. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, reports of standing and special committees. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, motions. Item 18, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021; Tabled Document 43-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, with the Member for Hay River South in the chair.

I will call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Norn.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021.

Thank you, Mr. Norn. We will proceed with that item after a short break. Thank you.

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I will call the committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021. Does the Minister of Justice have any opening remarks?

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 19^th 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.

Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister of Justice wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, thank you.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my right, I have Charlene Doolittle. She is the deputy minister. On my left, I have Mandi Bolstad, director of corporate services.

We will proceed to the review, beginning with the Department of Justice. I will now open the floor to general comments on the Department of Justice details. If there are no comments, does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Thank you. Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary, beginning with community justice and policing, starting on page 262, with the information item on page 265. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister just refresh our memory about the program detail, protection against family violence? What does that fund pay for? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe what the Member is making inquiries about is funding that is provided to the YWCA of the Northwest Territories. They are one of the designated authorities for assisting individuals under the Protection Against Family Violence Act, and they can support people in the community who are seeking an emergency protection order to seek the protection order. Sorry, Mr. Chair. I realize I had flipped inadvertently a page ahead.

Yes, protection against family violence includes that. It also includes, Mr. Chair, the access to funding that is provided for the A New Day program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that. Can the Minister tell us whether there has ever been review of the emergency protection orders or whether one is planned to determine how effective they are and how they can be made more effective? Thank you.