Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When I talked earlier, I mentioned about alcohol and addiction, how to do treatment for people. [Translation ends] The first question I have is: what programs are currently in place here in the Northwest Territories to provide addiction treatment and addiction recovery care? How many programs are there in total? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier on correction, Department of Justice, and I mentioned that the majority of incarcerated people are Dene people. I would like to ask a question regarding that. [End of translation] The Inspector of Corrections calls it a national travesty. I would like to ask the following question to the Minister of Justice: more specifically, how is our correctional system helping Indigenous inmates to reduce their chances of reoffending once they leave the prison system? Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents. The first is the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action," and the second document is the "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." These should be our guiding principles as we move forward as a territorial government. Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Again, reflecting back on the TRC recommendations, it talks about reducing the systematic discrimination. Looking into the future, what are the Minister's plans to reduce the systematic discrimination that Indigenous people experience in our judicial system or justice system and in our corrections system?

I am just curious about the priorities of this government. What priority has this Minister given to the problem of the over-representation of Indigenous people in our corrections system?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I would like to talk about justice. I want to say a few words regarding that. [Translation ends] Canada's Office of the Correctional Inspector says that Canada's correctional system has reached an all-time low for the Indigenous population. Comprising barely a twentieth of the general population, Indigenous people now account for almost a third of federal inmates. That is an incarceration rate six times that of mainstream Canada.

In the Northwest Territories, the rates of imprisonment of Indigenous persons are equally troubling: 83 percent. Mr. Speaker, 83...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. In light of the alarming rates of incarceration that Indigenous people face in the Northwest Territories, I submit the following written questions to the Minister of Justice:

In the past 10 years, what programs and initiatives has the territorial government launched to keep Indigenous people out of jail, and what do the evaluations of those various programs and initiatives conclude about effectiveness of each?

What proportion of territorial prison staff are Indigenous, broken down by employment category, especially management, program delivery, and guards?

What proportion of...

Just reflecting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 recommendations, obviously, there is one recommendation that I highlighted as part of my Member's statement. Are there sufficient and stable funds within the Department of Justice to implement and evaluate these measures to provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. In addition to these amazing warriors fighting to promote and preserve our language, there are also 25 classroom support assistants in Tlicho schools who speak the Tlicho language, as well as instructors who support community initiatives.

I would like to acknowledge all of the interpreters and translators here in this House and in all of the communities for their important work.

Mr. Speaker, most importantly, I would like to acknowledge all those who speak their language and are still learning their language. Our language is an integral part of our culture and who we are. Masi...

Mr. Speaker, it's great that the department has several plans in place. We definitely need to improve in those areas. My third question obviously is: what are the plans? What plans has the department or has it encouraged as careers that require Indigenous languages and to develop fluent speakers to fill those career positions, Mr. Speaker, as language teachers?