Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will make this my last point. One of the difficulties of the antipoverty work, since it was really renewed with vigour in 2009, is that the territory doesn't have a definition of poverty. I am wondering if the Minister believes the time has come to create a definition. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have any further questions on that, now that we know what that is about. Also, during the business planning process we talked about the tremendous backlog of need in both longterm care and homecare, and the Minister said that the department is aggressively exploring options to acquire additional longterm care beds in Yellowknife in the short term. I wonder if the Minister could give us an update on that issue. Thank you.

No further questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, Rockhill is almost 50 years old. The plumbing system is going. The electrical system and fire suppression systems have been upgraded, but its lease on life is in fact coming to an end. Has the department started planning for where this program will be offered when Rockhill is finally declared dead? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on February 9, 2017, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 14, 2017;

AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to February 14, 2017, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister whether he would consult with his federal and provincial counterparts and he said, and I quote, "I'm always willing to consult." So can the Minister state his commitment to suggest that an evaluation of the application of the Criminal Records Act be placed on the agenda of the next FPT Justice Ministers' meeting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association research says that there's no evidence that these checks reduce the risk of crime or violent offences. So 17 years on, perhaps it's time to test the assumptions behind them. Will the Minister agree that an evaluation of the effectiveness of these checks should now take place?

I move that this committee defer for the consideration of the activity community health programs under the Department of Health and Social Services, Main Estimates 2017-2018, on page 167 at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, these records of non-conviction are used nationally. There is a growing backlash against this injustice. Last sitting, the Minister of Justice said he would not seek a change in this practice. I don't think that is good enough, and I will have questions. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I'm ready for that challenge, Mr. Chair. The definition of poverty reduction in the NWT should be we pledge to reduce child poverty in the NWT by 25 per cent in five years. Could the Minister work with that please? Thank you.