Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got questions today for the Minister of Justice. Recently and over the last few years there’s been some high-profile cases of repeat violent offenders getting light sentences even after 16, 17, 18 violent crimes. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he’s aware of what constitutes becoming or getting the status of a dangerous offender.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The dangerous offender status or designation is the responsibility of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada under federal jurisdiction. If there is concern that the Member is addressing or bringing forward, then by all means we can receive the detailed information and share with our colleagues at the federal level.
Given the fact that we have such a high incidence of violent crimes and repeat offenders of those violent crimes, I’d like to get a better understanding of why we’re not seeing applications made for dangerous offender status for habitual violent offenders in our Territory.
This is an area that if issues arise or have been addressed to our Department of Justice, we seriously take them into consideration. We need to work with the federal government as well. It’s under their jurisdiction when it comes to dangerous offenders, that designation. Any issues or complaints that are being brought to our attention in detail, then we will definitely share them with the federal government.
My understanding is that in the provinces and territories the Attorney General or deputy minister of Justice must give consent to an application. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if under his watch that status has ever been given to an offender here in the Northwest Territories.
That detailed information I need to get. I don’t have in front of me that information. I’ll get that information for the Member.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if we cannot review cases where individuals have been incarcerated, as I mentioned earlier, 15, 16, 17, 18 times for violent offences, if we cannot review files of that nature in an effort to try to get dangerous offender status on those offenders if they reoffend.
This is an area that we may have to explore with the federal government. Again, it’s under jurisdiction of the federal government. I do take the Member’s note that this is a concern to the Member and...(inaudible)...counterparts as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
