Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fifteen years ago a study said that it was time to build a new courthouse in the NWT because the needs of the population had certainly increased. It would be cheaper, the study said, and more effective for the people who need the services, rather than continue to sink money into the existing building. The needs have not kept pace with modern times. Even Nunavut and Yukon have independent courthouses. When is it time that the Northwest Territories get its own independent courthouse?
If you don’t believe me, believe our Public Works. Two feasibility studies were led by our own Public Works, and they identified that our needs cannot be accommodated within the existing courthouse we have today.
Let’s go back a bit of time. Thirty-six years ago, that’s 1977, our courthouse was designed for three Territorial Court judges and one Supreme Court judge. What has changed? Security has changed, functionality has changed, victims' and accused’s' rights have changed and improved, working space has changed. We don’t have four judges like back in 1977. We’ve increased to eight judges in total, not even talking about the increase in the court circuit of appeal that has to show up every once in a while.
In 2003 this Legislature gave $3.6 million. In 2006-2007 we spent another $4.166 million on planning for the new courthouse. The functionality, size and requirements are inadequate for these modern times. Nunavut has a new courthouse. Yukon has a courthouse. When is it time that the Northwest Territories has its own independent courthouse?
I would like to ask who is speaking on behalf of the judges on this particular file. Who is fighting for the rights of those victims and accused who have to cross paths and share rooms with each other before a trial? That is not fair. Who is speaking for the bottom line when the 2003-2004 court case of Giant Mine was going on here in Yellowknife? They had to rent YK Centre space at $353,000, not even talking about the stress when the Franco-TeNOise challenged the NWT government and the Government of Canada about their rights.
The bottom line is that things have changed, except for the courthouse. Demands have increased, and it’s time that we addressed these needs with an independent study.
I will be asking the Premier about the program review office later today.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
