Mr. Speaker, providing our residents with opportunities to make healthy choices is a priority that has strong support from this Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

This support extends to all citizens, including those serving sentences in a correctional facility. Progress made by the Department of Justice over the past six months will mean inmates looking to make better choices and return to their communities as healthy contributing members will be better supported.

Mr. Speaker, each year on the last Sunday of September, Canada salutes the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in their role as police and peace officers.

Fort Smith (August 13, 2015) – The contract for the design and construction of the new adult women’s correctional facility in Fort Smith has been awarded to C.A.B. Construction Ltd. of Fort Smith with a winning proposal of just over $23.5 million. The new facility will have capacity for 23 women and will be built on MacDougal Road next to the existing facility for male inmates. 

HAY RIVER (July 13, 2015) – Staff at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre had the opportunity to practice their contingency plans during a mock evacuation drill last week in Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this spring the Department of Justice hosted “Together We’re Better”, a conference on community safety planning, networking and building partnerships. Eighty people from across the Northwest Territories attended the two-day conference in Yellowknife. The focus was on small communities and included Elders, chiefs, mayors and senior community officials as well as Community Justice Workers, Aboriginal Court Workers, Corrections staff, Health and Social Services staff and representatives from NGO’s.

YELLOWKNIFE (June 2, 2015) – Workshops designed to assist families who are going through marriage breakdowns have now been expanded to the communities of Behchoko and Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, in cooperation with the judiciary, the Department of Justice has been supporting specialized courts in Yellowknife since 2011. Specialized courts and their programs provide offenders with an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and get the support that they need to lead healthier lives for themselves and their families.

HAY RIVER (April 28, 2015) – The Domestic Violence Treatment Option (DVTO) Court has expanded to Hay River effective April 27, 2015.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice is committed to this Assembly’s goals of healthy, educated people and vibrant, safe communities. We contribute to achieving these goals by offering a range of programs and services that give individuals the tools and support they need to address the challenges and poor choices that often result in criminal charges and incarceration. As with any organization, we are always looking for ways – big and small – to improve our programs and services to better help people make healthy choices.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 3, 2015) – The Minister of Justice has accepted all recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) Report on NWT Corrections Service.

“We welcome this examination of our procedures and processes as supportive of improvements and change in the Corrections system,” said Minister of Justice David Ramsay. “We have an obligation to provide strong programs for rehabilitation as well as to prepare inmates for their reintegration to the community and we don’t take this obligation lightly. We are committed to public safety.”