A male inmate who escaped custody from the Fort Smith Correctional Complex on the evening of April 30, 2022, was located and arrested the morning of May 1, 2022, and is now in custody.

A full critical incident review will be completed to determine the circumstances of the escape and work towards any improvements necessary.

The Department of Justice has the responsibility to uphold the protection and safety of individuals in our care and custody as well as the safety of our staff and the public with the utmost diligence. 

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is asking the public to share their views on seasonal time change in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

NWT residents are invited to provide their feedback on whether they want to keep the twice-annual time change or permanently adopt a single time. The public engagement also asks NWT residents whether they would prefer Mountain Daylight Saving Time or Mountain Standard Time (if the time change were to end). The NWT currently observes Mountain Standard Time in the winter and Mountain Daylight Saving Time in the summer.

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Mr. Speaker, twice a year we all adjust our clocks by one hour. First we move them forward, and then we move them back. People have always questioned the wisdom of this annual tradition, but in recent years a number of jurisdictions have taken concrete steps towards eliminating seasonal time change. On Monday, April 4, the Government of the Northwest Territories will begin a six-week public engagement to help us determine when and how we will eliminate seasonal time changes.

The Therapeutic Community is an innovative approach taken by the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Corrections Service to support people in custody to be successful in their rehabilitation and reintegration. Today, Minister of Justice R.J. Simpson celebrated the opening of the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Therapeutic Community.

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Mr. Speaker, the new Corrections Act came into force on October 29, 2021. The new Act modernizes the Northwest Territories’ corrections legislation to incorporate modern practices and approaches, shifting the focus of the legislation to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of people in the corrections system through a supportive environment.

Today, Minister of Justice, R.J. Simpson announced the judicial appointment of Jeannie Scott to the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories. This appointment is effective October 8, 2021.

Ms. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University, a Masters of Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Laws from Ottawa University.  She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2009 and the Northwest Territories in 2010.

Today, R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice, announced that amendments to the territory’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP Act) are now in effect. These amendments  will strengthen access to information and privacy protections for NWT residents.

R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice, today announced that the Hamlet of Fort Liard has been selected to host the Community Safety Officer Pilot Program.

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Today the Minister of Justice, R.J. Simpson, announced new regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act to replace those put in place on April 9, 2020 to help tenants impacted by COVID-19. The new regulations will allow for the establishment of rent repayment plans to ensure tenants have a reasonable timeframe to pay back rent that has accumulated from March 18, 2020 to January 31, 2021 as a result of the pandemic.