Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 24, 2016 I will move the following motion. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4(1) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, on Monday, June 27, 2016 this Assembly shall meet from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to transact its business. And further, notwithstanding Rule 6(1) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. the Assembly shall be interrupted by the Speaker, or if the Assembly is in Committee of the Whole by the chair, who shall rise and report progress, the Speaker shall adjourn the Assembly and all remaining business shall stand over until the next sitting day. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 24, 2016, I will move that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 24, 2016, I will move that Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Acts 2016, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, June 24, 2016, I will move that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 24, 2016, I will move that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Children’s Law Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the Committee? Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to continue its consideration of Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017, with the Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
We will begin consideration after a short break. Thank you.
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I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we’ve agreed to consider Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017, and we agreed to continue with the Department of Justice. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Yes, I would.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Kim Schofield, director of finance, and to my right, Sylvia Haener, deputy minister of Justice.
Thank you, Minister. We’re on the department totals on page 259. We will defer this until we’ve considered the rest of the department details. If committee wants to turn to page 260, justice revenue summary and information item. We can take comments or questions on that page, page 260. I’ll give Committee a moment. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Under the revenue section, regulatory revenue, access to information to information and privacy fees, I see $4,000. I guess I’ve heard from some people that the fees may be an impediment or a barrier for individuals to request information, and it looks from this that we don’t actually raise a lot of revenue from this. Is this an item that the department is looking at perhaps even doing away with fees, given the low amount of revenues here in the interest of open government? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister Sebert.
Mr. Chair, as the House will note there is a review of the ATIPP Act being conducted at this very time and that is one of the matters that is going to be considered.
Thank you, Mr. Sebert. I’ll just remind all Members and Ministers to conclude your statement with a thank you, so the audio techs know to switch the microphones. It makes it a little easier for people at home to follow. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from the Minister. I’m wondering if there are other opportunities to perhaps raise more revenues within the Department of Justice. Mr. Chair, I’m wondering if I can get some comment from the Minister and his staff. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister Sebert.
Mr. Chair, we are always looking at the possibility of raising additional revenue. In fact, in the category or the line item, court fees and fines, you can see that is up slightly. In the land title and legal registries fees, there’s a considerable increase. That’s driven by increasing the cost of prospectuses which are filed across the country and also in our jurisdiction. We are always looking at ways to increase revenue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. When the department’s constantly looking at ways to raise new revenues, do we look at how we compare to other jurisdictions? Is it more systematic and rigorous in terms of comparing our fees against other jurisdictions in Canada? And how often might that sort of exercise happen? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister.
Yes, Mr. Chair. We do that. We always compare our fees not only in this department, in all departments with other jurisdictions so that we can remain competitive. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from the Minister. Are these fees then reviewed on an annual basis for comparability with other jurisdictions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Minister.
Yes, Mr. Chair. I understand that they are reviewed on an annual basis. Generally there are increases because we have to at least keep up with the cost of living. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have no further questions.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the Nunavut exchange of services, I note that fluctuated between 2014-15 and 2015-16, around $1 million and now it’s back to a similar ratio. Could the Minister speak to that fluctuation and what those exchange of services are? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Mr. Chair, that represents an amount that is provided to us by the Government of Nunavut when we house inmates from that jurisdiction in our facilities. Perhaps there’s a reduction in crime in Nunavut. I’m not certain, but it’s dependent on the number of inmates that we house and that number has gone down. Fewer also have been sent here since the opening of a new facility in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s the same rationale for the federal exchange of services, the same type of revenue? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Mr. Chair, it’s slightly different in that these federal inmates are very likely people that have lived here and under arrangements between the federal government and the territorial government certain inmates who are doing federal time are allowed to remain in the Northwest Territories. I think that is what that figure represents. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
