Wendy Bisaro

I think the important thing to note in the Minister’s answer is she said that’s what they started to do since last Thursday and Friday. The working group was established before Christmas and my understanding was they were supposed to help to develop what the department seems to have determined a draft plan. It seems they have a plan which they’ve put out and they are looking for consultation on, a plan which apparently would charge a fee. I just have to take exception with the fact that the working group was not involved in the drafting of that plan. I guess I ‘d like to ask the Minister why...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments in regard to the budget for Justice. Initially, I believe that the position of the chief coroner is being reinstated to a government position and I do support that. I think that’s a good move.

Also a good move I think is the emphasis on increased policing. We’ve added some members and a detachment in this last year, and I will have some questions as to the timing of the planned rollout of other detachments as we go forward when we get to that section.

I also note that there’s an increase in legal aid services with the establishment of, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to address my questions today to the Minister for Health and Social Services. I have some questions in regard to the recent release of information about possible change to the Supplementary Health Benefits Program. I am very appreciative of the work that’s been done by the department and the staff in the department to do a lot of research and to provide a lot of data. My questions go to the process that has been used to date and the process that’s been planned for the future in terms of consultation.

The motion that was passed last year by this...

I guess I would then ask do we know what the Y uses it for.

That didn’t totally answer my question in terms of timeline, but prior to asking that again, I note in the briefing note it says that GE told us in 2007 that system support wouldn’t be provided after December of 2009. So that’s, if it’s the middle of 2007, that’s at least a year and a half for this project to come forward and for the department to ask for approval. So I’m a little taken that it’s now coming before us and it’s urgent. I can accept that it’s urgent, but I think there’s a difficulty with planning or a lack of planning on the part of the department here.

To the Minister, I’d like...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask a question here with regard to the community justice committees and projects. It has been a concern, I believe, to get some of these justice committees going and part of it, I understand, is due to the lack of community coordinators. I wonder if I could get an update on whether or not there’s been any progress in getting more community coordinators in place and/or are we making progress on establishing community justice committees. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that explanation. I had forgotten the information about the timing of leases. So thank you. That’s all I have.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. During business plans we did discuss the idea of a child advocate from a program that the department, I believe, is thinking about considering putting in place. If I could ask the Minister or his officials for an update on where this initiative is at and whether there’s any kind of a date that we can be advised of as to when this might or might not happen. Thank you.

I’m not totally sure I follow the timing. I think I’m hearing the Minister say that the planning needs to be done now so the construction budget can be included in the next infrastructure budget. If I could have that clarified, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, one more question. When the Minister was discussing something earlier or in his remarks he mentioned the difficulties with placing RCMP in communities and the need to provide housing for them. When we discussed the Housing Corporation, I believe the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation indicated that they are working with various departments to try and provide staff housing. So to the Minister of Justice, is there an opportunity to work with the NWT Housing Corporation to provide housing for RCMP to try and enable officers in our communities sooner rather than...