Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, the tough on crime has been in the works, again, for some time now, and we are doing an overall assessment of the Northwest Territories, the corrections, the program delivery, and we can provide that information to the Members for their review as well.

This is an area of interest for us. Whatever happens at the federal/provincial/territorial jurisdictions, it does have implications in our jurisdiction, as well, when it comes to tough on crime and more program delivery for those inmates and the minimum jail time, whether they serve it in the Northwest Territories or outside the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This federal legislation, tough on crime, has been in the works for quite some time now. First it was the Youth Criminal Justice Act and then this tough on crime. One of our main goals and objectives as we come to the table at the federal/provincial/territorial Ministers meeting is to push for more programming into the regions and into the communities. More specifically, for the three territorial jurisdictions, because we’re quite unique compared to other provincial jurisdictions, and they’re fully aware of that too. We’ve been pushing with the federal, especially with the...

Clearly, we are not giving up on the students. We are supporting all students of the Northwest Territories. We represent 33 communities. Through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the tabling of the document in this House, clearly highlights the strategy that’s in place to identify those students who are struggling, those students from isolated communities, and those students who may be challenged. Those are the people that we need to continue to work with. It’s a new document. It’s going to strengthen the communities, it’s going to strengthen the education system of the Northwest...

At the beginning, also mid-term and at the end of our term we were told not to make any major or drastic changes...

Mahsi. One of the priorities is, of course, the schools, as part of my portfolio as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. That is my priority. I have to look after all of the schools, make sure they’re well operated, and also that it meets the community’s needs as well. So those schools that have been identified for future consideration definitely will be in the work of the 17th Assembly. So those are the discussions that need to take place as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. This government does provide priority to those schools in the Northwest Territories as part of the capital planning process as we move forward. The super school that the Member is referring to took over 10 years from the planning stages until the final result. So sometimes it does take some time. But definitely in the Nahendeh riding we’re fully aware of the two schools that the Member is referring to, and we’ll continue to work with the school boards to identify those priorities. The work is already underway in the schools as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize those individuals that are in the gallery and organizations, the Minister’s Cultural Circle inductees are here with us today. First, in the youth category here with us: Evan Tordiff, along with his mother, Sylvie, and sister Lauren; Abel Tingmiak, elder category that’s here with us with his wife, Marcy Jane Tingmiak, that are here with us; Ben Nind of the individual category here with Natalie Labossiere; also here with us are the Aklavik Delta Drummers, the group category, Andrew Gordon, Eva Gordon, Alexander Gordon and Mary Ruth...

If we don’t have those resources, then definitely we need to go through our business planning cycle to identify the core needs of those inmates. If there are increasing inmates in the Northwest Territories, we have to identify those. Again, federal is also a key partner, so we will continue to push them. But within our own jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories, there is a plan in place. If the legislation comes into full force, what are the implications and we need to prepare for that. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, those are the areas that have been assessed through the 13 jurisdictions that we have to deal with. We talked about the resources and the manpower that’s required when the legislation comes into force. At the same time, again, the federal government needs to recognize our uniqueness, the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut as well, that this particular program that we’re continuing to push with the federal government, it’s one of the priorities of the Northwest Territories Justice department to identify those key areas. We will continue to do...

We will definitely follow through with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. It could be small, but at the same time we have to respect all the regions. It’s not just one region that is faced with a challenge. At the same time, we’ll definitely follow through. Mahsi.