Debates of October 26, 2004 (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Justice, was interviewed on CBC Radio on Monday, October 25, 2004, and spoke of changes to the way the legal aid services in the Beaufort-Delta would be delivered in Justice of the Peace Court. A local justice of the peace in Inuvik had expressed concern that the legal aid lawyers would no longer represent people in JP court.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister did say that the court workers would be available for clients at proceedings in Justice of the Peace Court. Now, I realize that proceedings in Justice of the Peace Court are usually not serious, but I am concerned that there may be circumstances where it would be appropriate for a person to be represented by a legal aid lawyer. For example, bail hearings can be conducted in JP court and I would think that this would be a circumstance where it would be appropriate to be represented by a lawyer. The question then becomes whether the court worker is able to recognize this need and arrange for proper representation.

I am also aware, Mr. Speaker, that some communities do not have a resident justice of the peace or court worker. In these cases, I would assume that a court worker would accompany a justice of the peace and would be available to help persons appearing before the court. The Minister also made it clear in his interview that the Legal Aid office in Inuvik was the only place in the NWT where a lawyer attended a JP court. I cannot understand the Minister’s reluctance to continue a practice in one region that is not offered to the rest of the residents in the NWT.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause