Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, again, these are the programs that we offer. We made some changes and we will make some changes again if the need arises, dealing with reintegration back to the community or rehabilitation. This is the main focus that we have in the system. We’re also, within the community of justice and also the RCMP ‘G’ Division, the focus is on preventative measures as well. Those are the areas that we continue to work with within our department and other partners that are involved. Yes, those are the areas that we need to closer monitor, Mr. Speaker, and change is always in the system with the...

Mr. Speaker, these individuals that the Member is referring to, they are in a system where they may be released earlier than expected. It is at the discretion of the judge. They make the final decision.

The programs are in place within corrections and outside of corrections. It’s interdepartmental. It’s not just our Justice department. We work with the RCMP ‘G’ Division with respect to awareness programs, information being sent out that these individuals are out there. They do what they can. We work closely with the RCMP ‘G’ Division, the Justice department, and we will continue to do so. We...

I agree with the Member. It is across the board in the Northwest Territories, not just in Nahendeh. It is in Beaufort-Delta and other places. This is an area that has been brought to our attention and we are working within our department and the DECs and DEAs.

Obviously there is a solution we need to find within the system. This is an area we need to work closely with the district education authority on. We allocate funding based on the operations and maintenance of the school board and they work closely with the students and the parents in identifying where issues arise. We need to find out the situation that the Member is referring to. What is the real issue? Why aren’t the students in their residence? I’m sure there’s a reason. We need to find that reason. As the Member alluded, there’s a solution to this, so let’s work on that.

Some of the obstacles or challenges that may face the college is the travel to the communities. Those are the areas that have been identified and we need to work with that. There may be other areas, other concerns that may have been brought forward, but this is an area that they’re willing to modify their program. This is definitely an area that we need to focus on. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Leon Lafferty as a former MLA and also from Behchoko. Also the two most important people in my life: Maurice and Dora Marie Lafferty, my mom and dad.

I believe that there are different parties involved. It is also the student’s responsibility to do their research on what they want to get into, the field of studies, and the requirements of that particular program, including the practicum and whether or not it can be delivered in the Northwest Territories. That is information that is available on the college website or the college application. We need to work with the students. We as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have staff that can provide some information, but it’s also the student’s responsibility to do that part too...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that we are closely looking at. We are currently in the final stages of having a review done on the community justice programming. This will fit well with what the Member is referring to. Definitely this is an area that we have been pushing and we will continue to do that. We feel that this is an important piece of work, that rehabilitation and reintegrating those individuals back to the community will be a success due to these programs that are being offered.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, definitely we’re continuing to work with various institutions that we have partnerships with down south. At the same time, the Grande Prairie Regional College is also interested in considering some modification. The modification will take some time but it is in the works. Those are areas that we continue to work on with the college.

We do provide, as I stated earlier in the House, the programs that are available to the inmates. The dollar figure depends on the institution that we have across the Northwest Territories. The most important thing is to have rehabilitation programming and to reintegrate the individuals back into the community. I think the important part is the Aftercare Program. We can do what we can within the system, within the institution, but once they leave, there’s another venue they need to access and that’s the Aftercare Program. As I stated, I work closely with the Minister of Health and Social...