Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize the president of the NWT Native Women’s Association, Ms. Gina Dolphus.

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Mr. Speaker, that’s considerably more detail than I have at my fingertips, so I’ll take that question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to provide that to the Member. I’m not sure if she wants me to provide that in writing so that she’s got it in a lot of detail. As I’ve said earlier, one of the first steps is to try and respond to the RCMP business plan to make sure we have adequate policing here in the Northwest Territories. We are supporting community programs like the Wellness Coalition and the Citizens on Patrol program, which again should help to reduce the opportunities for this sort of offence to ever take place. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act there is a new sentence that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RCMP can do that and have done that in the past, but it is entirely the RCMP's decision as to when they should make that sort of announcement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how you identify potential offenders in a document. I would certainly be prepared to examine what information is available on charges that have been laid and on convictions that have been laid, and provide that sort of numerical data. But in terms of privacy concerns, until somebody is convicted I can't see how we can provide much information.

Again, I am prepared to work with Members here to provide them what we can, but there will be some limitations on what is publicly available.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly take a look at it.

Mr. Speaker, I can't answer that question at this time. I don't know exactly how many staff, but I know that, for instance, in the North Slave region, there is one officer supported by five staff in the career centre, who can also provide services to people in apprenticeship programs. That's typically the way it is done; the support is provided through the career centres in the Northwest Territories. I will have to commit to getting the Member the specific numbers at a later date. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, NWT apprentices do qualify for financial assistance for books, for travel if they need to travel to take their training, and for living expenses. So there is funding available to support apprentices in those areas already. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Justice has completed negotiations for a two-year agreement that will see the GNWT receiving $1.24 million to increase the number of aboriginal RCMP officers in the Northwest Territories.

This funding, from the Government of Canada’s First Nations policing program, announced last October, will support a number of projects, including: a recruitment strategy to encourage aboriginal individuals to consider joining the RCMP; an access program to help applicants meet RCMP entrance requirements; a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the previous government responded to the 65 recommendations of the Special Committee on Official Languages in 2003 and one of the responses was the passing of the new Official Languages Act. One of the things that will be happening by July 1st of this year is there will be an aboriginal languages revitalization board established and the purpose of that board will be to maintain, promote and revitalize NWT aboriginal languages. I will also, by July 1st, be announcing the establishment of an official languages board which would advise myself on issues related...