Louis Sebert

Certainly we do encourage our Aboriginal citizens to consider a career in the RCMP, so we are encouraging them from that point of view. As I said earlier, we do need a police force that is reflective of the people that they serve. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am not sure that I accept the proposition that all tax is punishment. I mean, after all, this money isn't being wasted. It goes into our coffers to support many of the programs that Justice and many of the other departments have. I mean, as far as affordability, the increase in mortgage rates of 1 percent has a much more dramatic effect than a $350 one-time cost. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a question I will perhaps have Mr. Goldney expand on, but yes, we are moving and have been moving to a new system. This is not something that we are breaking new ground on. This is quite common in the South. Ultimately, I think there will be an ongoing requirement, or likely for the near future, for subcontractor court reporters in jury trials. I know in the past, of course, we use them at all levels of court. We are in the process of moving to a different system. This is to really modernize and hopefully make more efficient our current system. Having court...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just looking back over some of the other groups that can be funded or have been funded in the past, to give you some idea of the kind of ambit of types of projects we are willing to fund, and I am going back to 2017-2018: Tides Canada was funded for northern youth leadership for $13,000; Inuvik Justice Committee, Inuvik Justice Committee elders program and young parents program. So these are organizations that are funding very important work in the Northwest Territories. As I said, I think we can encourage groups to come forward. I am not going to encourage them simply...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just looking over the statistics. I understand that the initial capacity for the new facility will be 23 beds, with a possible provision for expansion, and that the current capacity is 20. I don't think there are 20 inmates there currently. It looks like there are 10 currently, nine of whom are sentenced and one on remand. Thank you.

Yes. Rather than looking at a new program, we are looking at expansion of the current program, if I can put it that way. Again, we are seeking federal expansion of the program. Thank you.

On a $400,000 purchase, I don't think a $350 cost is significant. I mean, these rates have not been changed for many years. I forget how many, but more than 20 years. I mean, most things are more expensive than they were 20 years ago. It hasn't been increased for a long period of time. I feel that the increase is justifiable. We need to raise money. I don't want to cut valuable programs. We did need to raise money when we were looking at our overall finances. I think this is a sensible, modest way of raising some additional funds. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not aware of any shortages as far as justices of the peace, if that is the question. I don't know the exact number, but we could certainly provide it to committee. We can easily find out that figure. Again, I am not sure of whether there are vacancies or shortages. I am not aware of them, if there are. There may be vacancies. Thank you.

Yes, certainly there is this large surplus, and perhaps we should be more active in encouraging the types of organizations that I referred to earlier to apply for funding. I think we do need to be more energetic in this area. Thank you.

Yes, I wonder if I might have Ms. Bolstad assist with answering that question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.