Question 3-15(3): Registry Of Sex Offenders March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a point, due to shortness, I tried to summarize my preamble into my next question. Essentially, I'm asking if the Minister would supply us with information, a database that we could work with to see offences committed in the Northwest Territories, so we could recognize the potential usefulness of a database that would note sex offenders. Therefore, we would note reoccurrence of sex offenders in the Northwest Territories, as well as potential offenders who have offended in the Northwest Territories who are

not Northwest Territories citizens. Therefore, I'm looking for 10 years of data of offenders who reoffend. Thank you.

Question 3-15(3): Registry Of Sex Offenders March 16th, 2004

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for offering that. Mr. Minister, would you also be further willing to supply information to all Members of the Legislative Assembly, noting reoffender rates of sex crimes for the last 10 years in the NWT, and if this could be linked to offence locations in correlation to their home location, and further out-of-province offenders who commit crimes in the Northwest Territories, and would you bring that forward to all Members of the Legislative Assembly?

Question 3-15(3): Registry Of Sex Offenders March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for answering that question. Then in this case, Mr. Speaker, I would like to further draw attention that on September 6, 2001, the Ontario Conservative Government offered their $2 million software at no cost to any other government in Canada that wished to use it. Noting that this software is free from Ontario, would the Minister be willing to investigate the potential of accessing this free software database program for the Northwest Territories?

Question 3-15(3): Registry Of Sex Offenders March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Ontario was the first province in Canada to create and implement legislation that established and maintained a sex offender registry. The act, named Christopher's Law, was proclaimed on April 23, 2001; named after an 11-year-old boy, Christopher Stevens, who was killed by a previously-convicted pedophile. Since there was no sign of a federal strategy to implement such a program, Ontario proactively and independently, to protect their citizens, developed their own registry.

Headlining in the territorial News/North paper, there was a story of a girl who was attacked in Yellowknife by a convicted sex offender. The attacker was on probation for only 11 days before his next assault. Six days later, he was picked up by the RCMP for being drunk in public, and released. Three days later, the offender sexually assaulted someone else. He only was later identified to police by someone who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, this leads me to my question for the Honourable Minister of Justice, Charles Dent. Does the Minister agree that a sex offender registry could have helped and played a role in this particular case to aid the RCMP to flag this person as a previous sex offender, to help solve sex crimes in Yellowknife and all of the communities in the NWT?

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two people I would like to recognize in the gallery. Mr. Ed Jeske is a very respected yet feisty senior here in Yellowknife.

---Applause

The second, I am not sure if she is still up there but Ms. Julie Sorel. She is my constituency assistant, which I want to point out if I look good, the credit is solely due to her, and if I don't look good, obviously I didn't pay attention to her. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

Recognition Of Yellowknife Centre Athletes In Arctic Winter Games March 16th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to acknowledge the Arctic Winter Games participants from my riding of Yellowknife Centre. Marie Christien Auger, a speed skater, gave an outstanding performance, bringing home two gold and three silver medals. Michelle Bourgois, a speed skater, also the proud winner of one gold, two silver and one bronze. Stephanie Bourgois, also in speed skating, took home three gold and one silver.

Brendan Callas participated in basketball with his brother, Michael Callas. Margo Cooper participated in snowboarding. Derek Graf brought home a bronze in badminton. Kelsey MacDougall landed herself a gold in speed skating. Ian MacDougall, also in speed skating, had a performance with one gold and one bronze. Chi Nguyen participated in soccer. Cleo Stinson participated in cross-country skiing and Evie Varelas in soccer.

Not only did these athletes, Mr. Speaker, have fun -- I was there to watch them -- they all played very well. They cultivated the spirit of the games through sportsmanship, hard work and determination. Also, a big hand goes out to the parents, the coaches and the volunteers at these games.

Mr. Speaker, this is truly a worthwhile northern tradition that could only be made possible with help from all those involved. Congratulations, again, to all the participants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Question 12-15(2): Access To Legal Aid For Family Law Matters January 21st, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank the Minister for pointing out the independence of the board. The independent board is very important. Although it cannot be overlooked, the board is also accountable to the Minister. Mr. Minister, can I get your commitment today that you would make statistical information available to the Members of this Assembly regarding typical workload breakdown of legal aid files within the system from where they start as they enter, to where they get their first meetings, and when they come to a relative close, and if you could tie this together with other regions in comparison to the Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 12-15(2): Access To Legal Aid For Family Law Matters January 21st, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister, for your answer. Mr. Minister, my next question to you is what are you prepared to do in a reasonable sense to help assist with this access, so that people can access family law services much sooner? Is the Minister prepared today to reassure me that he will take steps so that all approved legal aid files will receive at least a first-base meeting within 30 days?

Question 12-15(2): Access To Legal Aid For Family Law Matters January 21st, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Justice will have the pleasure of receiving my questions regarding my concerns with legal aid access when it comes to family law issues. Mr. Speaker, concerns have been brought forward to me by someone in my riding.

I've only recently learned that in fact if you are a person accused of a crime, you have the appointment of a lawyer immediately. However, Mr. Speaker, if you're a mother of two who is desperately struggling to put milk and butter on the table and attempting to get legal custody of your children and you need to make an application in order to get financial support, to request legal aid assistance you have to wait three to six months for your first appointment to start dealing with this tormented circumstance. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Justice is does the Minister believe, in his opinion, that a three to six-month waiting period is reasonable access to justice for a first appointment to discuss this family law issue with a lawyer?