Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. I'd like to welcome everyone in the Chamber today, especially our interpreters, just reminded me, I was asked yesterday to remind Members to speak slowly. There's a couple in here that I won't name but just be mindful of the interpreters. They were struggling the last couple days with some of us, and just keep that in mind. But welcome, Ms. Edjericon. It's always good to have family support for our Members in the Chamber. Mahsi Cho. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I rise to acknowledge the passing of Eva Henderson at 96. Eva came here in 1974 with her husband and family. A registered nurse, she worked at Stanton Hospital and helped establish Yellowknife home care services. She was the founding and lifetime member of the Northwest Territories Nursing Association. In later years, she ran a bed and breakfast with husband Eric. Eva's vivacious nature and ready smile will be missed, while her influence will be felt for years to come. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I questioned the Minister responsible for Infrastructure on rumors that a Russian-registered aircraft landed at the Yellowknife Airport. Since then, I've had people reach out to me, not only from the NWT but from across around Canada as well, some of whom were just looking for additional information, clarification, while others provided suggestions on what should be done with the aircraft and occupants, most of which I will not repeat here.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister clarify, in fact, whether or not the aircraft was Russian-registered and where did the flight originate from? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise our understanding is that the plane is registered to a company in Austria. The flight originated in Geneva, Switzerland. Until the Canadian Border Service met the plane here in Yellowknife and determined that the passengers were Russian nationals, there were no flags raised. Quyananni.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that confirmation. And with the nationality of the passengers being Russian, I guess what's the current status of both the passengers and the aircraft at this time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Canada continues to gather the facts required to be able to make a determination on the next steps regarding these passengers. So Canada will also continue to hold the plane while the investigation is ongoing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the passengers were looking at going on expedition and given that, I just ask if the Minister's department was contacted by either the group or by any federal government agencies confirming that the plane had Russian nationals on it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was no knowledge of the expedition or contact with the Department of Infrastructure prior to the plane landing on Tuesday. I was disappointed with the lack of engagement, and I'm hopeful that they at least reached out to the Yellowknife First Nation or the Tlicho when accessing their traditional territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with what is taking place in the Ukraine, we need to talk about sovereignty protections and monitoring northern Canada. I also find it very disappointing that the federal government is not providing timely information that involves Russian nationals.

Can the Minister advise how her department will rectify this communication failure with the federal government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So once we opened the borders to tourists on March the 1st, our ability to be able to restrict access to the Northwest Territories has ended. It is now up to Canada to be able to determine whether the Russian nationals are allowed to stay in Canada. That's -- I can't say anything further as it is really out of our hands, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the data at my fingertips. I'd be happy to get back to the Member with that information. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the government of the Yukon conducting a review of the Yukon police force. That review produced a final report, along with several recommendations for improving oversight to the RCMP and building trust with the public. The NWT could learn a thing or two from that work.

Has the Minister or the Justice department ever looked at the Yukon's police force review, and if so, have any of these recommendations been considered for the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I haven't read the report but when the Member brought it to my attention, I did have a brief look at it. The department is aware of the report, and one of the things about having a national body like the RCMP is that all jurisdictions share information and so the NWT does work especially closely with the Yukon and Nunavut. So that information is shared between the jurisdictions as well. So there is definitely an awareness of that report and its findings. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if he or the Department of Justice has ever considered conducting a review of the NWT police force like what has been done in the Yukon? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've just initiated that review. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, in 1999, the Yukon government created the Commanding Officer's (Yukon) First Nation Advisory Committee. It was created to foster a healthy and positive relationship between First Nations and the RCMP. That committee meets twice a year.

Has the Department of Justice ever considered or attempted to work with the Indigenous groups in the NWT to create a similar committee for the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The commanding officer of G-division also has an Indigenous advisory committee, and they meet biannually. It's made up of community members and elders.

Of course, people may remember the RCMP is also working with the Dene Nation on an innovative program that is well underway, that was announced last year. And the GNWT, the RCMP, and Salt River First Nation are working together to address some of the outstanding issues out of that jurisdiction. So there's lots of work underway. Thank you.