David Ramsay

That number would be certainly difficult to quantify.

However, getting back to the Member’s concern over the $305,000 that we have this year for the wellness court, next year we have earmarked for the wellness courts just shy of $1 million and we have had some of our staff at community justice working on this. We had a presentation that we provided to the Standing Committee on Social Programs today. We’re going to be moving forward and we feel that we have it resourced. We want to get it up and running, and I think once the wellness court is up and running, we’ll have a better understanding of...

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Again, it is in the government’s best interest to ensure that dollars spent here in the Northwest Territories by our government stay in the Northwest Territories, and that is certainly an objective. We have, I know the Member mentioned, negotiated contracts. That is another policy separate from our policy on sole-source contracts. Again, it is there so that we can build capacity here in the Northwest Territories, so departments can look at various contracts that are going to enable groups around the Northwest Territories to build up that capacity and employ local people and ensure that money...

Mr. Chairman, it is just a net effect, that number. Thank you.

I should also mention that the waiting list for family law clients is 43 days. Urgent matters are assigned to counsel right away. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The wellness court, of course, would help in this area, as well, and I thank the Member for his support on the wellness court.

As far as FASD, at North Slave Correctional Centre we do have a specialized pod at that facility to help deal with inmates that have FASD. Also, in Fort Smith we have an educator located at the facility in Fort Smith to help with the programming for inmates that have FASD as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that information was provided to committee about two weeks ago. We could perhaps bring it back. I’ll go to Ms. Haener, but I think the level of detail the Member is looking for was supplied to P and P two weeks ago.

I apologize. I didn’t mention this in my response during my previous opportunity. We have five new positions in the legal division. We have one new position that is specific to ATIPP. So there must have been a little bit of a misunderstanding there. That’s five new lawyers, one of them will specialize in prosecution and one ATIPP position, as well, just to be clear. I thank the Member for his questions. Thank you.

Madam Chair, the Department of Health and Social Services is part of the steering committee on the wellness court, and a similar process is underway related to the Integrated Case Management Pilot Project here in Yellowknife and in Inuvik, so we’re working closely with the Department of Health and Social Services on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have opening comments.