Louis Sebert

Yes.

Mr. Chair, some of this funding might have been lapsed had there been no reduction exercise, but again, the amount of money allocated for this very important function was based on a risk matrix and not based on concerns about the overall budget. So it's not as though we're not living up to the expectations of the people of the Northwest Territories; again, this is based on a risk matrix. There's less activity out there; therefore, less money was required for travel.

Yes, thank you. As the Members will know, we extended the current contract so that there would be no gaps in services. Of course, there was the report on the New Day program, and based on that, we will be going forward with a request for proposals, and hopefully, we will be starting up the program again in July. So again, there will be no gaps between the present contract and the next contract. That is our wish and our belief. Thank you.

Often, those ones who are sent south, if it is for the reasons of access to programming, are inmates in need of specialized psychiatric or psychological assistance. Unfortunately, I don't know. I don't think I have the numbers in front of me, and it may be difficult to actually obtain those numbers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That is our hope, Mr. Chair, but no guarantees can be given.

Yes, Mr. Chair, I would like to add something. I think that when we see amalgamations, whether they're governmental or corporate, there is almost always a rationalization of positions. Hopefully, this is not on a fact-based basis and we believe that to have been the case here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Well, again, the amount of the lease is based on the appraised amount. So if the appraisal comes in at $40,000 the amount expected to be paid yearly would therefore, in a normal case, be $4,000, although as I mentioned earlier there could be exemptions for a senior citizen. So it is based on the appraised value, a percentage of the appraised or assessed value of the property. It's not so different than leases anywhere and it seems to me that a yearly lease or rental of 10 per cent of the appraised or assessed value is not an unusual or extraordinary amount. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, Mr. Chair, that is correct. Again, the whole point of this is to avoid any gap in service. Thank you.

That was an accounting issue. It was a transfer to community justice. Thank you.

Yes, I can mainly somewhat speak from my own experience, that when I travelled around the communities the court workers were invaluable to me, and their caseload was heavy but not incredibly heavy. I imagine the greatest pressure might be in Yellowknife, where there is weekly court going on and there would be a heavy load for local court workers to carry. Thank you.