Louis Sebert

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our belief is that it is not detrimentally affecting access to justice. Again, this is a system or type of system that has been used in the South for a long time. My understanding is that there should be no diminution of the access to justice. If there is, we will have to make sure that the system is updated and, as I say, we are rolling this out now. There may be glitches along the way. Hopefully not, but I am confident that there will be no loss of access to justice with this system. I think that is what they found down South, and that is why they have moved to this...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, I think I can commit to having staff communicate with the committee. I don't know if we can approach them on the basis, "Hey, there's a surplus that you need to spend," but I think we could approach them on the basis that we are looking for projects to fund. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly that will be subject to operational requirements. I suppose, if we find that there is a great increase in the number of inmates and that we need more staff, we would have to look at that at that time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes. The program that we are seeking expansion on is for the First Nations Policing Program. Perhaps Mr. Goldney could speak to where we are with respect to our efforts, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A gradual increase, perhaps, would have been sensible if it had been raised every year, but it hasn't been. It hasn't been raised for many years, and going back to the example I gave, on a $400,000 purchase, $300,000 mortgage, $350 is not a terribly significant sum.

As I say, the banks have raised their rates. If they raise their rates 1 percent on a $300,000 mortgage, that will cost you $15,000 over the five years. $350? I think that is an entirely justifiable increase, far less than we had originally contemplated. We heard from the people, we heard from the Members, and...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the question. As I say, I wasn't aware of a shortage or an undersupply, if I can put it that way, of justices of the peace, but I am aware that people are retiring, of course, or taking on different occupations. Yes, certainly, I will look at that. We do need justices of the peace and they do fulfill a very important position in the community. Yes, it would be better. If there is a shortage, we should certainly look at it and attempt to recruit people, I agree. Thank you.

Thank you. It would be unusual to encourage people to spend down a surplus, but I think we do need to be more active and encourage them to bring forward projects that would be of the type that we should be funding, so I am committed to have our department become more active in this area because, clearly, there are surplus funds. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there are some vacancies that are going to be filled. I understand that the facility, while physically much larger, will have larger areas for meetings, and so on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do understand the importance of special constables in the past history of the RCMP and the invaluable service that they did provide. We have been seeking federal expansion of the First Nations Policing Program. We do recognize that this is an important issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes. This is a modest increase. I mean, it is not something you pay every year unless you buy a new house every year. Again, if someone is contemplating buying a $400,000 house, a $300,000 mortgage, yes, they will have to pay $350 more in the example that I gave, assuming that my numbers are correct. That is not a huge amount when you are dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars on a purchase. Thank you, Mr. Chair.