The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its What We Heard Report on Missing Persons Legislation.  

The What We Heard report provides a high-level summary of the input received from the public engagement with NWT residents from June 16th to July 25th, 2022. The report has been compiled to provide an understanding of the areas of interest and concern raised by Northerners regarding missing persons legislation.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, with funding from the federal government, the Department of Justice is enhancing access to free legal advice and legal representation for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence through the establishment of the Independent Legal Advice and Representation Program.

The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, Canada’s highest honour for the corrections field, has been awarded to 21 employees of the NWT Corrections Service.

The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal is handed out on behalf of the Governor General of Canada to individuals working in corrections who have reached a long-service milestone in their career and who have exceeded expectations in work performance.

The medals were presented by the Honourable Margaret Thom, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, during an evening reception on April 18, 2023.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, families encounter the family law system in some of life's most difficult moments, and the Government of the Northwest Territories, GNWT, is committed to improving our family law processes to ensure we support families through these hard times.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its What We Heard Report on Seasonal Time Change.

The What We Heard Report includes a summary of the feedback received from the six-week public engagement that took place from April 4, 2022, to May 16, 2022.  Northwest Territories (NWT) residents were asked whether they want to keep the twice-annual time change or permanently adopt a single time.

Minister of Justice R.J. Simpson announced today the judicial appointment of Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass to the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories. This appointment is effective as of December 13, 2022.

Ms. Whitecloud-Brass holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan.  She was called to the bar in the Northwest Territories (NWT) in 2017.

The  Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has ordered a review of an incident at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex, where an inmate was inadvertently released from the facility and brought back into custody.

On January 7, 2022, an inmate was released from the Fort Smith Correctional Complex. Following the release from custody, the individual was reporting to and had been under the supervision of a probation officer.

Minister of Justice, R.J. Simpson, joins the RCMP in the Northwest Territories in welcoming its new Commanding Officer of “G” Division, Chief Superintendent Sydney (Syd) Lecky:

Between June 16 and July 25, 2022, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) department of Justice is gathering public feedback on the development of missing persons legislation.

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.