Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department would be willing to consult with people in Inuvik. That’s one of the purposes why the steering committee was set up -- the one that includes the town, the DEA, the DEC and so on -- was to make sure that the structure that is built is reflective of what the community wants. There may need to be some partnerships developed though in order to pay for some spaces that wouldn’t normally qualify for government support, but we’re always willing to look for those partnerships and find ways to accommodate community needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, February 21st, we will celebrate

Heritage Day. This is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the diversity of heritage and culture that all Canadians enjoy. In the NWT, we are especially blessed with an exciting history and a strong sense of heritage.

While our communities and residents have many opportunities every year to celebrate culture and heritage, today I would like to recognize a number of community-based projects in the Northwest Territories that are part of a national program called the Historical Places Initiative. Under this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that if there is another opportunity for the staff of that facility to get a job with the government, they could find it. That is one of the reasons that we have the staff retention policy; is to take advantage, or try and make sure that the government takes advantage, of the experience that we have within our staff. I would hope that we will find jobs for them in the not-too-distant future and not necessarily that we would have to wait some time.

In terms of the facility, if there is some department that comes forward with a proposal for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in early days when we knew that we were going to propose the closure of Dene K’onia, I did, in fact, approach other Ministers in the government to ask whether or not there was some way that that facility could be used. I would certainly welcome any opportunity to keep the staff employed as long as they are employed in a program that makes sense for this government to embark on.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the issue and have been aware of it for some time now. There is the process that has been launched. I am going to respect that process so far and watch how it turns out. When you have a grievance that is possibly laid, you have to respect that we have that process set out and have to follow it, so I will be watching how things unfold. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t speak for the Premier personally, but I can speak for the government’s position, and, therefore, that of the Premier and of all the Members of this government, that people are and should be encouraged to use their first language whenever possible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, that wasn’t the intent when I said that. I have no way of knowing what might have happened if there were different facilities in place. We’ve worked entirely on what was in place. My point was that a group home is not an expensive facility to build. It doesn’t need to have security. It’s basically a family home type of setting. So it is something that isn’t expensive to add to the inventory if it’s ever needed, in comparison to a facility like the open custody facility we have here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the reasons, Mr. Speaker, was that the facility in Yellowknife is a combined facility. One half of it is for secure custody and the other is open custody. Because it is the only secure custody facility in the Northwest Territories, we can’t close the facility down. So the level of savings that could be achieved by not operating the open side were not nearly the same as what could be achieved by closing a facility down completely. That was one of the reasons. The other was just the fact, as the Member noted, that one was newer than the other, and the issue of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on October 28, 2004, Mrs. Groenewegen asked me to confirm that the NWT Status of Women Council was invited to be a full participant in the preparation of the NWT action plan on family violence. I would like to clarify my answers to Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Coalition Against Family Violence developed the NWT action plan on family violence, 2003-2008, and presented it to the Government of the Northwest Territories in October of 2003. The Status of Women Council is a member of that coalition.

To develop a response, the GNWT brought together representatives from...

Thank you, Madam Chair. This bill amends the Territorial Court Act to remove restrictions that affect territorial court judges and deputy territorial court judges when they turn 65. Presently the judges cease to hold office on attaining age 65. However, they may be reappointed on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee for fixed terms of three years for territorial judges, and two years for deputy judges. The ultimate requirement that the judges cease to hold office upon turning 75 is retained, consistent with the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court and...