Louis Sebert

Mr. Speaker.

The Legislative Assembly established the Members’ Conduct Guidelines during the 12th Assembly. Subsequent Assemblies have each formally adopted them (except the 15th). The Members’ Conduct Guidelines were amended in the first days of the 18th Assembly for greater emphasis on effective representation, to reaffirm Members’ duty to arrange their private matters so as to maintain the trust and confidence of the public, and to include a pledge to abide by the laws of the land.

For the first time, Members of the 18th Assembly formally signed copies of the Members’ Conduct Guidelines...

I understand that the position, Mr. Chair, was vacant in any case, but, no, we think we have sufficient resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Of course, there are no communities that do not have policing supplied to them. It is just a question of whether they have an actual detachment located in the community. I understand there are 12 communities that don't have an actual detachment. That does not mean they are not policed. The police will often have patrols in those communities. I also know that all the communities in the Northwest Territories do have agreements, policing agreements, with the RCMP. The RCMP will know the concerns of those small communities and enter into agreements to assist. Thank you.

Thank you. I know we are encouraging Aboriginal lawyers, but perhaps Mr. Goldney can fill us in. Perhaps some of his personal experience might assist. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that the decline is related to the reduced amount of work required for devolutionrelated issues. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We are hopeful that the renewal of the First Nations Policing Program will result in additional resources being added to detachments serving smaller communities, so we are hopeful and optimistic that the federal government will be coming up with more. I suppose conceivably that would mean we might be coming up with more. I don't think we have really reached that stage in our deliberations with respect to this matter. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The department of Justice currently has three P1 lawyers. They also have three southern Aboriginal lawyers. Of note, there have been two P1 lawyers who have left the department in the recent past for other opportunities. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, in 2016-17, 29 communities have accessed funding for restorative justice programs. There are a few communities that have not. Certainly, I can speak for my former community that the community justice group or panel was very active in the community. Sometimes it is hard to find members who are willing to put in the time that is required. Again, of course, our department wants to develop community-based solutions for minor criminal offences. As I mentioned earlier, a good number of matters are diverted, and this is the ideal type of organization to assist in that method of dealing...

Mr. Chair, I know that the Housing Corporation installed a twobedroom portable unit they allow the police to use for overnight accommodation for the members on patrol. This has made police coverage in Tsiigehtchic better, from what I have heard from the Member. I assume that this would be a longterm lease, but as to the exact term, I am not sure. We are not aware of any plans to discontinue this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, the estate clerk position is funded from money from Canada and, as it says in the notes, the Government of the Northwest Territories administers the estates of Aboriginal persons. I think that goes back to, perhaps, the Indian Act and the requirements of the federal government, the fiduciary duty they have. So it is part of what the public trustee's office does, but not all. Thank you.