David Krutko

Mr. Chairman, this is my last question for the Minister. I’d like to ask the Minister: is there a possibility that I can get a copy of the evaluation of the program that was run at the Tl’oondih camp in Fort McPherson. There were, I believe, three programs. There was an evaluation and assessment of that program, but I’ve never seen a copy. The Tl’oondih Healing Society has asked me to get a copy, because they want to know what worked, what didn’t work and what went wrong, so that they can improve the program but also see how they can directly enhance it. I’d like to ask the Minister if it’s...

Mr. Abernethy.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Mr. Robert Charlie. He is originally from Fort McPherson; he lives in Inuvik. He used to work for NorthwesTel for over 30 years. He has also been the chair of Gwich’in council since its inception in 1992. I’d also like to mention that Robert’s dad was one of the first aboriginal appointees to the Territorial Council in the Northwest Territories. It is those commitments that his dad has made to the Territories…where we are where we are today. Again, Robert is one of the candidates running for the presidency of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and...

There was a program that was in place with the Tl'oondih Healing Society in Fort McPherson, where we were looking at developing a program which was implemented for, I believe, three clients who went through three different times with the program. The whole intention of the program was to reintegrate inmates back into their communities and to allow them to deal with some of their issues so that they don’t re-offend. But it also tried to make them aware, to be able to cope with society but, more importantly, to deal with their issues before they’re released from prison.

In regard to that program...

Mr. Abernethy.

Minister McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 37-16(2), Main Estimates 2008–2009, Volumes 1 and 2, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to this issue I have been approached by the Gwich’in cultural institute to raise this issue in the House. They’ve been working with the department, making recommendations. They’ve even suggested people who have that expertise to work with their department who are working in other jurisdictions in Canada. I’d like to ask the Minister: why aren’t you taking the advice of those language organizations that have made these recommendations and acting on them?

Minister McLeod.

Minister McLeod.