YELLOWKNIFE (February 28, 2018) –   Louis Sebert, Minister of Justice, introduced the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) proposed legislation for legalizing recreational cannabis in the Northwest Territories (NWT) today.

The proposed Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act deals with those aspects of the legalization of recreational cannabis that the GNWT has authority over, including: minimum age, possession limits, public smoking, the sale and distribution of recreational cannabis, and impaired driving.

YELLOWKNIFE (February 9, 2018) – Twenty-three northerners were awarded the Governor General of Canada’s Corrections Exemplary Service Medal yesterday, the highest honour for corrections services professionals in Canada.

Northwest Territories corrections service professionals from Yellowknife, Hay River, and Fort Smith received the Governor General medal for distinguished service at a reception yesterday evening.

The Honourable Margaret Thom, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories presented the medals.

Delivered on February 8, 2018

Mr. Speaker, our mandate has outlined direct actions to improve the lives of Northerners. For the Department of Justice, this includes a commitment to offer programming that meets the rehabilitative needs of inmates.

YELLOWKNIFE (NOVEMBER 24, 2017) – Minister of Justice Louis Sebert released the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) proposed plan for legalizing cannabis in the NWT today. This is an important step in designing a system that will provide controlled access to a safe supply of recreational cannabis for NWT residents in order to maintain the health and safety of residents and communities across the North.

Yellowknife (October 24, 2017) – Louis Sebert, Minister for the Department of Justice with the Government of the Northwest Territories would like to announce that the Cannabis Legalization in the Northwest Territories What We Heard Report has been tabled in the Legislative Assembly and is now available to the public.

Delivered on October 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, last week an unprecedented package of 70 letters from inmates at the North Slave Correctional Complex were addressed and delivered to myself and several MLAs.

These letters outlined common themes that focus on issues surrounding programming at the facility, as they work to make positive changes in their lives.

Delivered October 3, 2017

Mr. Speaker, since 2013, September 30^th has been marked as Orange Shirt Day, a day for all Canadians to remember the survivors of the residential school system.

Organizers chose an orange shirt as the symbol for that day based on a story told by Phyllis Jack Webstat, a survivor of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in Williams Lake, BC. In her story, Ms. Webstat tells of having the shiny, new orange shirt her grandmother had given to her being taken away on her first day at residential school.

Delivered on September 28, 2017

Mr. Speaker, we want NWT residents to thrive in a strong and healthy society; and there is no place in strong and healthy homes for family violence. In response to this goal, our government made a mandate commitment to strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and respond to family violence. By working together we have made real progress in creating and supporting the programs that will help us achieve healthier communities and families.

Delivered on September 19, 2017

Mr. Speaker, our residents have demonstrated that cannabis is an important issue for them. Since I last spoke of the legalization of cannabis in May, our government has been hard at work undertaking an extensive engagement program with the public and stakeholders to make sure we understand the views of Northerners.

YELLOWKNIFE (August 24, 2017) – The Government of the Northwest Territories will be hosting public meetings during the month of September in order to continue gathering input from NWT residents on cannabis legalization.

The input collected at the public engagement sessions will build on the approximately 1,000 responses already received from the online cannabis survey. Together, the information gathered will help guide the GNWT as we make specific plans, including developing the new legislation that will be needed for cannabis.