Yes, I do. Should I just take it away? Thank you. I am here to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $136,000 over the Main Estimates 2020-2021. These estimates continue to support the mandate objectives for the Department of Justice while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.
Highlights of these proposed estimates include forced growth funding of $877,000:
- $99,000 to fund increased external counsel costs in the Office of the Children's Lawyer;
- $123,000 to fund increased inmate services costs being incurred at the North Slave Correctional Complex;
- $233,000 to hire two additional sheriff officers to address staffing shortfalls; and
- $422,000 for the Territorial Police Services Agreement to allow the staffing of three additional RCMP constable positions in Yellowknife;
Initiative funding of:
- $303,000 for the implementation of a community safety officer pilot program within an NWT community. This program will be developed by Indigenous peoples for Indigenous peoples;
Funding sunsets of $1.424 million, including:
- $20,000 that supported the activities related to the legalization of cannabis;
- $339,000 to defer the establishment of two legal counsel positions in support of the initiative approach to unauthorized and rights-based occupancy;
- federal funding of $316,000 thousand from the Indigenous Justice Program fund; and
- $749,000 from the A Framework for Enhancing Victim Services Agreement in the NWT;
In other funding adjustments of $415,000, including:
- $158,000 incremental investment under the federal gun and gang violence action fund; and
- $257,000 for the implementation of the Judicial Remuneration Commission Report recommendations.
These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by allowing the department to:
- work with the RCMP to ensure that all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories have policing priority action plans in place that are based on the specific needs of each community and are developed in partnership with community leadership;
- support community justice committees in the development of alternatives to the criminal justice system, such as diversion programs, and community service and crime prevention programs;
- make 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 community; and
- finalize 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.
This concludes my opening remarks, and I look forward to answering questions from Members. Thank you.