Bob Bromley

It’s good to know the Premier is aware of that contribution.

Does the Premier also realize that his press release totally ignored the point that the World Wildlife Fund was raising while simply focusing on writing off the World Wildlife Fund of Canada as a southern organization?

I don’t know whether I’m his constituent or he’s mine, but I’d like to recognize Chief Stanley Sanguez.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. World Wildlife Fund of Canada, a long-term northern conservation partner, has been attacked by Inuvialuit leaders and, most disturbingly, by our own Premier. The attacks are based on false premises and completely ignore the point — a valid point, I might add. World Wildlife Fund of Canada has called for a postponement of the lease sale in the Beaufort until a comprehensive measurement plan is available for the region and the capability is in place to quickly clean up oil spills.

Mr. Speaker, planning is as yet unfinished in the conservation of the Beaufort. In fact, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have one brief issue at this time, and it's referred to in the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure.

The Affordable Housing Initiative had a progressive goal of getting 530 units in place, and I understand there are 174 planned for this year. I am concerned about the availability of suitable land and the land tenure issue in communities. It's something that's come up a number of times with my constituency concerns and also with a number of people who have been stymied in their home-ownership plans through some of the Housing Corporation's...

Not surprisingly, that failed to answer the question.

Does the Premier realize that the representative of the World Wildlife Fund of Canada is a 40-year resident of the Northwest Territories and that the previous representative is a long-term resident who has retired and currently lives on the land well away from any community in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions have to do with the Premier’s statements in his recent press release on the World Wildlife Fund’s role in conservation. Does the Premier realize that the World Wildlife Fund has been a key partner, working with all of our communities — closely with all of our communities — for many years in the development and implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy?

…but certainly not all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that you'll get me the information on how many units we have land secured for this year out of 174. Are things looking better for next year, and do we see an end to this issue in the near future? Or is this going to be an ongoing situation?

Mr. Chair, I’m afraid I’m not comfortable putting a lot of weight to the Minister’s remarks. I’m aware that there is a request for proposal out currently by the department, closing on the 20th of June, for the delivery of healing and learning programs in Corrections. This is clear evidence that there is a recognition, at some level, for the need for more effective programming, and healing programming specifically, which is what we’re talking about here. Can the Minister explain this incongruity to me?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My questions are about the elimination of the Sex Offender Relapse Prevention Program and the Family Violence Prevention Program at the North Slave Correctional Centre, programs delivered to men who have been convicted of these offences.

I think it’s common knowledge to most of us that the incidence of sex offences in the Northwest Territories is extremely high, second only to Nunavut. Our rate is averaging well over five times the rate in Canada. In fact, we had 156 offences in 2006, which on a rate per 1,000 people is extremely, extremely high.

This program is a vital...