(Mr. McNeely): Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, there is an annual plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
(Mr. McNeely): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I understand that the department is going to be looking at the Petroleum Resources Act and reviewing that during the 18th Assembly. Is there any plan to look at the composition of the board and try to make the process a little bit more open and transparent? I don’t think there’s actually like a public call for proposals, and the board could probably use a little bit more public interest representation. Are those matters that the department will be looking at in reviewing the Petroleum Resources Act? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
(Mr. McNeely): Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we’re planning to look at it. There is a public member at large on the board, and there is a public call for proposals, but all of those things will be looked at as we go forward in reviewing the different oil and gas legislation that we talked about earlier. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
(Mr. McNeely): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the commitment of the department to look at trying to make the fund a little more transparent and accountable and representative of the public interest. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thanks, Mr. O’Reilly. Questions. Seeing none, we should move on to page 253, Industry, Tourism and Investment, work performed on behalf of others. Questions. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. There’s three line items here for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. I guess these were different contribution agreements. I just want to understand whether the funding is wound down for these arrangements, was the work actually done for each of them? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first one was funding received for the Canadian Arctic Research Station. The second, INAC one, was funding received under the Strategic Investment and Northern Economic Development Program for geoscience research projects, and the third one is Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada funding received for the Canol Trail Wire Clean-up. I don’t think the CHARS project is finished yet, so there may be some funding identified there. The SINED had money. We have applied, it’s application-based, and that’s generally applied through CanNor. Also, the Canol Trail Wire Clean-up; that’s a responsibility of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. They may or may not provide… In the past, or last year, they provided funding to allow us to work with the Sahtu community to do some work on cleaning up the Canol Trail tourism project. Also, geoscience was a large part of the SINED funding, which was a second INAC bracket there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. These funding arrangements, they’re finished. I guess, in particular, I was curious about the Canol Trail work. Has that actually been completed? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess the Sahtu Secretariat and the people in the Sahtu have been waiting a long time for the land for the Canol Trail tourism project to be made available to them so that they can start promoting it. Until it’s cleaned up, that’s still the responsibility of the federal government. Our understanding is that additional funding will be provided this year, and quite a significant number, but we couldn’t include it because the arrangements have not been concluded. We only put it on the books once we have a signed-off agreement. Until that happens, it would be inappropriate for me to put out a figure. We are expecting some more funding in that regard. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I’ve been out hiking on parts of the Canol Trail in the past and have myself actually become entangled with wire. I really want to make sure that work gets done and that it’s safe for tourists and local people to go out there. I appreciate the efforts of the department in getting that work done and making the trail an important tourism attraction. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
I was going to say it’s a good thing you didn’t have horns, but it might be taken the wrong way, so...
---Laughter
Questions? Seeing none, we shall return to 231. Industry, Tourism and Investment, total department $59,870,000, and we are agreed that the consideration of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is completed.
Agreed
Thank you. Any closing comments, Mr. Minister?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the questions from the Members.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Now we’ll begin consideration with the Department of Justice. I will turn to the Minister responsible for the Department of Justice for opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to present the 2016-2017 main estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the Department’s estimate proposes a decrease of just over $3.4 million representing a decrease of 2.67 per cent over the 2015-2016 main estimates. The department’s budget continues to balance the need to ensure effective frontline program delivery while supporting the government’s objective of limiting expenditure growth to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework. The estimates represent the work of the department for the administration of a justice system that is open, accessible and responsive to the needs of the people it serves. We are presenting a budget that continues to be prudent and responsible. Accordingly, we are presenting just over $4 million in expenditure reductions and reducing $383,000 through sunsetting programs, revenue has increased by six per cent or $849,000 mainly due to fees administered by the legal registries division. These budget estimates represent $874,000 in forced growth costs, primarily arising from increases under the Territorial Police Services Agreement. The department will continue to meet the priorities of this Assembly as described in the mandate. We will continue to support families when they are in conflict or personal crisis. The Parenting after Separation Workshop is now being offered over the Internet to reach families throughout the Northwest Territories. The Family Mediation Program is offered via telephone for parents looking for support. We are working to make information about these programs more accessible. We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence through a multi-pronged approach. This includes the promotion of training and education on the tools available under the Protection Against Family Violence Act, such as emergency protection orders, as well as under the Residential Tenancies Act to provide victims of domestic violence with more options. Additionally, work is being done with our partners to examine the feasibility of expanding the Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court beyond the two communities currently served. In addition to these actions, we are committed to ensuring men are receiving the most appropriate healing programming to help them to address violent behaviours toward their domestic partners. We’re improving access to justice in the Northwest Territories by expanding community legal outreach programs to make family law duty counsel services available to assist self-represented people for their first court appearances. As well, we will be expanding public legal education on programs and services available so people will know how to access the help they need.
Through these supports, families and individuals will be empowered to work towards successful resolutions, allowing them to return to more constructive and healthier alternatives. We will be supporting the RCMP and our communities as they work together as partners to prevent and respond to violence. Through policing priorities that speak to the unique needs of each and every community action plans are put in place that will allow further transparency and accountability. In order to improve our social response to crime reduction, we will be examining and analyzing the information we learn from these plans as well as other research work that is underway with our territorial partners in the Yukon and Nunavut. We will continue to provide safe and secure custody of offenders. As the Assembly has identified, programs need to be culturally appropriate. There also needs to be a focus on rehabilitation programs that support reintegration back into communities. However, the causes of crime extend well beyond the confines of corrections facilities. We will work in collaboration as a government as we address the socioeconomic factors that are at the root of crime, including addictions and mental health issues, literacy and education rates, and poverty and homelessness. We will ensure that we are able to support government activities by building a proper base of legislation and regulations to support a strong and sustainable territory for the future. As part of this support, we are currently engaged in a review of the Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act and are actively working on the implementation of a framework to ensure privacy protections in the Act will be consistently applied across the GNWT. This concludes my opening remarks. I welcome your comments and questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.
I’d like to report progress please. I move that we report progress.
The motion is in order, non-debatable. All in favour? All opposed?
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017 and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Do I have a seconder? Member for Yellowknife North. Motion is in order. To the motion. Question’s been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Orders of the day for Friday, June 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner’s Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House adjourns until Friday, June 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
