Louis Sebert

Mr. Chair, of course, court schedules and everything are far beyond our control; that’s up to the judiciary. I know that the judiciary is very aware of the issue of people on remand; it’s an issue everywhere. As I say, we have the best or one of the best records of getting people to court so that they will spend the shortest period of time on remand. It’s an issue the judiciary and we are alive to, and I think we are doing far better than most jurisdictions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, Mr. Chair. This had to do with the prosecution of criminal matters in which witnesses were required. I understand this is now a federal responsibility, as is the conduct of prosecutions generally. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, the program is at a sunset phase, if I can put it that way, at this current time. Certainly it could be considered, or some program like this could be considered, in the next business program. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I do know that large law firms are certainly getting rid of their collections. When I started in this business many years ago as a lowly articling student in Toronto, one of the assets of every firm was seen to be their library. They don’t have libraries anymore simply because they’re not needed. I don’t know the exact expenditures in other provincial jurisdictions, but I imagine they are likely for the same reasons reducing their expenditures in this area. They would be in the same position in that they have asked majority of users now would be online, and it’s very hard to justify...

Mr. Speaker, we’re anticipating this change will actually save a great deal of money. Last year, just to give the House some statistics, we spent $467,000 to operate the library. There were only 984 visitors to the library, so that works out to about $500 for each person, each visitor, to the library. Only 385 books were signed out, which would work out to about $1200 for each book signed out. Additionally, our statistics indicate that most of the users of the current library are the legal profession and only about one per cent of the users are the general public, but I’m glad to see the...

Mr. Speaker, the department is very focused on issues of access to justice and we’re looking at the feasibility of establishing a resource centre in the courthouse which would allow counsel, legal counsel, and the general public to access electronic materials and a limited number of hard-copy books.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to present the 2016-2017 main estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the Department’s estimate proposes a decrease of just over $3.4 million representing a decrease of 2.67 per cent over the 2015-2016 main estimates. The department’s budget continues to balance the need to ensure effective frontline program delivery while supporting the government’s objective of limiting expenditure growth to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework. The estimates represent the work of the department for the administration of a justice system that...

Mr. Speaker, I’m not certain which law library was spoken to or are they are planning to speak to. I know that there’s two law schools in Alberta at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and the University of Calgary obviously in Calgary. I know little more than that. There will be communications with one or both of those libraries.

Mr. Speaker, at the time the budget was rolled, if I could put it that way, a letter was sent to the Law Society asking for their concerns or input. I can say that informally over the years I have consulted with my fellow practitioners and I took what they told me to Cabinet when we did discuss this very matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 182-18(2): RCMP Services in Wrigley.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.