Glen Abernethy

There is a lot that needs to be done. There is no question that drugs and alcohol in the Northwest Territories are a problem. The Department of Justice is trying to focus more on prevention and diversion rather than incarceration. The department is doing things like supporting the Not Us campaign, which we got real positive responses on.

In the day, those youth that are involved in violent crime, those individuals that are involved in organized crime will likely receive stiffer penalties under C10 and the changes to the YCJA. That doesn’t change the fact that we still want to focus on diversion...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have done an analysis of Bill C10. Our analysis shows or we understand and believe that we will see some young offenders in custody for longer periods of time under Bill C10. One of the primary changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act under Bill C10, is it is changing to the main principles of the bill to include protection of society. In that we see some increases of sentences for young offenders by adding specific deterrence and denunciation principles of sentencing, expanding the definition of violent offenders, violent youth offenders may see more time in our...

Mr. Chairman, notwithstanding Rule 6(1), I move a motion that Committee of the Whole continues sitting beyond the hour of daily adjournment for the purpose of continuing and concluding consideration of Tabled Document 2-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been a lot of conversation about whistle-blower legislation. There was certainly conversation about whistle-blower legislation in the last election. I’ve asked the department to compile the information they’ve pulled together in previous years on whistle-blower legislation and bring that to me and I was planning to share that with committee. From there I was hoping to get some direction as to whether or not this Assembly wished to actually pursue whistle-blower legislation. I hope to have the information compiled shortly, but there are a number of things...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the value and importance of hunting in the Northwest Territories and the need for long guns to do most hunting activities, the GNWT has actually always opposed the long-gun registry. Our position hasn’t changed. We oppose the long-gun registry and actually support the federal government’s position on getting rid of it.

Thank you. If it’s the wish of the House and committee directs us to start exploring the legislation further, we will bring forward an LP and we’ll follow the normal legislative proposal process. Obviously, if it’s the wish of the House, I’d like to have it done in the life of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Right now the long-gun registry is a reality and there is a requirement to register long guns in Canada. In the Northwest Territories we’ve always opposed it. We still oppose it. It’s my understanding that the bill has actually gone to third reading in the House of Commons and that if it passes it will go to the Senate. If it does pass in the Senate and becomes law, then the long-gun registry won’t exist and we support that position. We don’t support the long-gun registry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my wife, Carolyn Smith. Happy Valentine’s Day.

I don’t believe a review of that nature has been conducted. I can say that there are a number of GNWT employees who really do like the Donnie Days and enjoy getting the time off. With respect to the impact on customer service, we don’t have that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past there have been training courses available through the NWT for customer service. I don’t believe those or any courses are currently being offered. As such, I am not sure if we have a true definition of customer service, but I am certainly willing to look into it and get a comprehensive answer whenever I can, at my earliest convenience. Thank you.