Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question on page 16 about the increased funding for court services. It states there that it is for the increased cost due to higher utilization. I am wondering if the Minister could tell us as to why there is higher utilization of court services.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the increased utilization numbers have been looked at. There has been an increase in this area due to crime in the NWT unfortunately, but it is there. Fifty percent increase since 2000. The courts are feeling the pressure as a result of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am wondering if this means that we may be going toward having to have another Territorial Court judge at the territorial level, not at the Supreme Court level. This is something that came up. For example, when we were dealing with public hearings on the Child and Family Services Act where there will be an apprehension time that might be brought forward more. We also recently passed legislation that would increase the access for legal aid lawyers and generally there is a slow process in the courts. The number of Territorial Court judges, I think there are four Territorial Court judges. That hasn’t gone up in a very long time. I am wondering if it is adequate to just increase these court officers dollars and not for the judge. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am not aware if there is a request for additional judges. The department will have to put that in through the business plan process if it were to make that request. What we do have is, for example, late in 2006, there were a number of court scheduled matters and there was no sheriff officers available. That is where the pressure is being felt in trying to come up with the staff to ensure that court proceedings can proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Can we have some order in the Chamber? Thank you. Justice, operations expenditures, courts, not previously authorized, $216,000.

Agreed.

Agreed. Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized, $538,000.

Agreed.

Total department, not previously authorized, $1.302 million.

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, directorate and administration, not previously authorized, $61,000.

Agreed.

Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million.

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. One question I have for the Minister is the language services of the Northwest Territories. In terms of the request, is this type of funding to…I am going to make the presumption to strengthen our aboriginal languages more than what we are receiving right now. What is this funding for in terms of having these services in the North here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is a contribution agreement we received from the federal government, the NWT, a Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT, and this is money used by the departments to provide services in those languages in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Madam Chair, the funding is used by the departments in the GNWT to provide aboriginal services in the various sectors. I imagine that is needed. For example, the courts, Health, Social Services, Education. Is that money being used right across the board here?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member is correct. The way it breaks down is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been entering into an agreement with Canadian Heritage since 1999-2000. The yearly funds have remained at $1.6 million for French and $1.9 for aboriginal language right up until 2006-08. So it’s been consistent throughout the time and used for the purposes as the Member has highlighted. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have one question regarding Mildred Hall in Yellowknife for $1.076 million. I thought at that time last year that all the renovations were completed. Can the Minister explain?

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The amounts here identified are for capital carry-overs, so the work that was not completed at the time would be carried over. There is some work that is left to be completed under Mildred Hall. As well, for further information, because it is not our asset, that’s why we find it under operations, not capital carry-over. That’s later on in this document.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Madam Chair, the capital infrastructure for community libraries is $50,000. Is that all the government can come up with for infrastructure for community libraries in the North here? Is this right across the Northwest Territories? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is a fund provided through Education, Culture and Employment and I am told yes it is, that is it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have seen some of the libraries in our communities and I know some of the people who work hard and they are certainly pushing people to volunteer or support their community’s libraries. We have initiatives such as literacy programs and to support our children and certainly have money there for our community libraries, and $50,000 for a community is something I am hoping the Minister would look at improving or increasing in terms of really putting the meat to the bones in terms of literacy programs.

Some communities have really nice community libraries and some are in pretty rough shape, a shambles. I know $50,000 is not much, it’s peanuts to support our community library, so I would ask that the Minister would give some explanation as to how this $50,000 got in here. I think that’s quite alarming to see this in here to support our community libraries. I would like to ask that to the Minister, Madam Chair.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this fund, as we look more into the detail, this fund is actually as we repair schools or renovate or put new schools in place, part of the capital program is for library function in that facility. The $50,000 is actually part of a carry-over for the Tulita school library. So it’s in part of the package and will be part of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Advanced education and careers, not previously authorized, $692,000.

Agreed.

Moving on to page 19, income security, not previously authorized, $3.594 million.

Agreed.

Total department, Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $8.429 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Transportation, operations expenditures, corporate services, not previously authorized, $475,000.

Agreed.

Airports, not previously authorized, $165,000.

Agreed.