Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today I talked about the Finance Minister's budget commitment to explore a tax on sugary drinks. The government's revenue option paper from last year rejected a sugar tax as uneconomic in terms of administration because the expense of implementing it would be greater than the income earned. I was surprised to hear about it in the budget. What has changed the Minister's views in the last year? Thank you.

Thank you. Could the Minister tell us: about how many inmates get sent south because the programming isn't available here in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am puzzled by that. It sounds like another pilot project because it is so different, so I am not clear why the department is not putting this out as a pilot project so that there is some flexibility to discontinue aspects once the pilot period is over? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recent years the idea of a sugar tax levied on sugary drinks like pop and juice has generated debate about outcomes. I would like to share my findings from a review of existing programs and best practices.

Sugar taxes typically focus on naturally or artificially sweetened beverages and are calculated based on volume, and might also include syrups or artificial sweeteners. They are usually implemented at the federal level, as in the countries of Hungary and Mexico. Here in Canada, the federal government has said only that it will continue to monitor emerging...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am wondering if the Minister can tell us about the decision to have federal inmates serve their time in the NWT versus sending them south. How does Corrections help make that decision? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that. My question for the Minister is: what kind of consultation has been done with the non-profit sector that works in this area on the idea of bringing the administrative and clerical functions inhouse? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to ask some questions about inmates serving federal time in the Northwest Territories. I will start by asking: can the Minister tell us approximately how many federal inmates are serving time in the Northwest Territories at this point?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am interested to hear that. That seems like an expensive remedy to the weakness that was found in the current service provider. Are there any other alternatives for ensuring that this program remains a communitybased program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So to give this idea an example to make it more tangible, what was the process that ended with government support for the Child Exploitation Unit? How does an issue like that get inserted into policing priorities and the relationship between the police and the government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I find that answer a bit opaque. I wonder if the Minister could elaborate? Thank you.