This is page numbers 1011 - 1034 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was indigenous.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy minister.

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Doolittle

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee appointed by the Minister of Justice recommends disbursements from the fund to support community-based projects and activities that provide services and assistances to the victims of crime, and there's no cap.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, deputy minister. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. In no way am I'm going to suggest that these people are not doing their job. As the Minister says, I think they get together once a year or something to look at applications. Whether the issue is it's not well enough advertised, what is available there, whatever. I will probably ask these questions next year, so I hope to see more of it going out the door to help victims of crime. I think the Minister recognizes that there's an issue with a growing surplus, and she's going to find a way to make sure we get more of the money out the door. Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. I didn't hear any question in there, so I will take that as a comment. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

I just want to make a couple of comments. You're talking about the missing and murdered women. I had a previous role when I sat on the national capital commission. We have some surplus here, and I'm wondering if a monumental plaque or place would come under the Victims Assistance Fund, if the missing and murdered women in the Northwest Territories were placed on a plaque and designated to the missing and murdered women. Is that possible? Is it something that has ever been thought about?

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess the answer really is whether or not there is an organization in the territories that might bring that idea forward, because the fund isn't one to which the Department of Justice can direct. The Department of Justice, myself, we don't get to say to the committee what they should spend this money on. They are responsible for making those decisions. We have a lot of department support that we use to support the committee so that they can engage with communities, so that they can help the communities to develop programs. Indeed, Community Justice helps directly with some of the community agencies. If there is a community group or organization out there that wants to put an idea forward, then I would say, "Please go ahead and do that," and it will certainly be evaluated. As far as I know, there is no reason why that couldn't come up as being eligible, but again, it wouldn't be up to me to make the final decision.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Acknowledgement by the Government of the Northwest Territories is extremely important in this file. It's a way of acknowledging the missing and murdered women, and it's a designation that would be unique. It shows us that we care. I'm not asking for it to go to a committee because I just saw the whole thing with the Victims Assistance Fund. A lot of families are still hurting from a lot of the whole events that took place, and justice hasn't been served. I want you to think about that as the Minister of Justice. I think it's extremely important that we acknowledge this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Chair, I don't disagree with anything that the Member has said. It's just that I can't spend this money. I don't have the ability to spend this money, but obviously the more we say it out in this House about these ideas, the more possibility that one of the community organizations could work with the Department of Justice and put forward a plan to do exactly as the Member has suggested. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Member for Thebacha?

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Maybe it would be a good idea if the Minister did a bit of research on the way the National Capital Commission handles monuments and designations. There are certain specifications that are required, and I think it's something that you could put toward your committee. I think it should be based here in the capital because this is where the government sits, and I think that acknowledgement of the missing and murdered women on this anniversary is extremely important. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Chair, maybe that's a conversation that can also be had at Cabinet table, too, so the point is well taken. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Member for Thebacha?

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

I have no further comments.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Are there any further comments or questions to the information items? Thank you, Members. Please turn now to the department summary on page 259. Justice, operations expenditures, total department, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $133,617,000. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Members, committee has indicated they would like to continue with the summary pages for the other departments. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Members, we can begin with Environment and Natural Resources on page 65. Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, total department, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $97,085,000. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

We will now turn to Infrastructure on page 223. Infrastructure, operations expenditures, total department, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $275,029,000. Does committee agree?