David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, I’d hope that the department could come forward with an action plan. The review itself is now two and a half years old. I think the department needs to work with the Standing Committee on Social Programs to make sure that the recommendations that are there -- and there are 18 of them. They are all good recommendations, Mr. Speaker, but some of them certainly stick out a little bit more than others. I would like to get a commitment from the Minister to work with the Standing Committee on Social Programs to go through the recommendations and develop an action plan on following that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize one of my favourite constituents, Ms. Joy Watt, who’s in the audience this afternoon. As well, I’d like to recognize the former Commissioner, former Member for Kam Lake as well, Mr. Tony Whitford. As well, of course, the Auditor General, Ms. Sheila Fraser, and her staff as well. I’d like to welcome them and everyone that’s in the gallery today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to provide a few opening comments on the Department of Justice.

First off, I really do appreciate all the good work that the department does do. I know I’ve been critical in the past on, you know, especially the area of rehabilitation and programming. I want to make sure that we are providing the best rehabilitation services and programs. I look forward to seeing, you know, we talked a little bit earlier today about an action plan being developed out of the 18 recommendations contained in the review of the programs back in 2008. I really think there’s a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Committee Report 7-16(5) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure is pleased to provide its report on Bill 16, an Act to Amend the Dog Act, and commends it to the House. Thank you.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure is pleased to report on Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act.

The interest in and response to this Bill from both within and outside the Northwest Territories was unprecedented. The committee held public hearings on Bill 16 in Yellowknife, Hay River and Inuvik between January 13 and 19, 2011, and in Fort Smith on February 10...

Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister could share with us what he feels the department’s priorities are when it comes to those 18 recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up again today on my Member’s statement, and again I have some more questions to the Minister of Justice on the corrections program review. I would like to thank the Minister for getting me a copy of that, but, of course, having a copy of that leads to many more questions. I would like to begin by asking the Minister a question. Of the 18 recommendations that are contained in the report, which ones have been actioned on or is there a plan to enact any of those recommendations in that plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to continue to speak about violence and crime in our Territory. I have the utmost respect for the words spoken by our Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honourable John Vertes, who appeared on Northbeat last evening. I appreciated what he had to say and I agree with him that we have to address the issues that face us. He stated that in the last five years violent crime has gone up by 28 percent in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Our violent crime rate continues to rise and we have the highest incarceration rate in this country.

Yesterd...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say I appreciate the Standing Committee on Social Programs’ belief that they wanted more answers on the review of the Child Family Services Act. They wanted some money. They wanted some commitments from the Department of Health and Social Services. They wrote to the Minister and the department three weeks ago. From where I sit, I see this is the last week we have to approve the budget. The timing of this is very suspect. To bring a response back to the committee in the last week at the 11th hour when we know our backs are up against the wall, there is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Bromley.

One witness began his presentation by stating “I’d just like to touch on a key word and that key word is ‘education.’” The committee heard several comments on the same theme, which spoke to the need for public education on the responsibilities of dog ownership, and on traditional and modern dog care practices in the NWT. A Sahtu-based study provided with one written submission, strongly recommended that such programs target youth, who are often dogs’ primary caregivers.

The committee recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community...