(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to say welcome to Lucille Pokiak, who is originally from the community of Rae. At this time, I would like to say thank you to Mrs. Pokiak, originally from the community of Rae.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about the benefit of our way of life, and the on-the-land program as part of the initiative in the rehabilitation process for offenders.

Mr. Speaker, during the pre-budget consultation this summer, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight gave the GNWT definite direction, from the community perspective, on spending priorities. With each consultation, I was struck by the frequency and intensity of the support of the on-the-land correction program.

The Department of Justice establishment policy clearly states that their mandate is to administer justice, including policing and corrections in the Northwest Territories, in a manner which respects aboriginal values, and encourages the communities in increasing responsibility. In the community of Behchoko, for 2002-03 fiscal year, over $1.8 million was spent on corrections and policing services, Mr. Speaker. For the same period, only $53,000 was spent on the Community Justice Program, representing less than three percent of the funding spent on corrections.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the restorative process of aboriginal offenders, we need to look at implementing traditional healing programs; on-the-land programs, which have aboriginal offenders making retribution to their crimes through hunting and providing for their communities.

On-the-land programs, or wilderness correction camps, have had difficulty in the past; but like many important projects, they require nurturing. Funding is needed for this. I am not talking about a huge $40 million infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, I am talking about allocating funding to run camps. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to express my personal thanks to Sarah Coey-Simpson who is here as a Page this week. She is going home tomorrow, so I would like to say thank you. Mahsi.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement, the RCMP workload is impacting on the service levels in the isolated communities. Can the Minister inform the Assembly whether there's a plan to increase the number of RCMP officers in the communities so that they can take a proactive role, rather than a reactive role in community policing? Mr. Speaker, mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I spoke about the problems the residents of Tlicho had with accessing service from the RCMP. Can the Minister of Justice inform the Assembly whether there's a standard service level that a community of a particular size can expect to receive? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, some of the problems with response times relate to dispatching being done out of Yellowknife headquarters. This leads directly to my next question. What are the hours of operation in the local detachment in the Tlicho region?

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned, too, that the police will sometimes not respond to a call because an actual crime has not been committed. It seems to be that that attitude is totally contradictory to the basic concept of community policing. Part of the responsibility of the RCMP is to provide a proactive presence in the communities, not just reacting to crimes in process, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not saying the RCMP are ignoring the needs of the communities. I suspect that if anything RCMP are overworked because of the impacts of resource development in the North, and that concentration on serious crime is the only way it can be dealt with with the workload. I am sure the RCMP want to have a more proactive role in the community, Mr. Speaker, and be able to work with the people to reduce crime, rather than just reacting to immediate threats to life or property.

Mr. Speaker, we must address policing issues. Locally, residents must do everything they can to support RCMP to do their jobs. The Tlicho and the GNWT leadership have a role to play in ensuring that the RCMP have adequate resources. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to commend the Justice department. However, Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned with the delivery of RCMP services to the Tlicho communities. There are the same concerns that are echoed in other small communities.

Tlicho residents have told me that on average the police response is 48 minutes. That is quite outrageous in the Tlicho region.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me the timeline on the development of a strategy to deal with the bison on Highway No. 3, especially with respect to harvesting from the community's perspective? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the department is working closely with the Department of Transportation. Can the Minister also commit on working with the local Behchoko community government to deal with the bison issue? Will there be a harvesting of them or putting florescent tags on them so they can be reflective; also, initiating rubber bullets for discouraging them from going onto the highway, Mr. Speaker? Mahsi.