Debates of October 26, 2006 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today will be about legal aid service levels and how we are meeting those challenges here today, Mr. Speaker. It is no surprise to Members here that I take a serious interest in the Legal Services Board as well as the legal aid issue and service levels. Mr. Speaker, I quickly did a search on those two topics and I came up with about 32 questions since I have been a Member in this House. I didn’t do a search on e-mails or written questions. I have always been about fair and timely service for those people in our society that need it most, Mr. Speaker. So my question to the Minister of Justice will be as follows: Would the Minister tell me what he is doing to help meet those service level needs to ensure the people who most need it get those opportunities through either a pilot-based program, whether it is a family law clinic or a poverty law clinic? How is this Minister meeting those challenges through any types of partnerships? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 201-15(5): Access To Legal Aid Services

Mr. Speaker, obviously the Member and I agree. Access to justice is critical. We need to make sure that those who can’t afford legal representation, when they are in legal need, have that access. We have had some concern.

The Members on the other side have raised questions continually about our caseloads and backlogs. I am happy to say that we are making some significant progress. We typically averaged well over 100 people on the waiting list. I think we have that down now, I understand, as of September 1st, south of 50, I believe, who are waiting to be assigned lawyers. We have a mixed system where we rely on both staff lawyers and the private Bar, but, Mr. Speaker, we aren’t satisfied in this regard. We think we can do more.

It is a constant battle to recruit lawyers. We are looking at some things outside the box. I have had some discussions with my department recently about having a lawyer attend on the basis of a local service provider. I don’t want to get into too much detail at this point, just to suggest that the idea is that a morning each week, a legal aid lawyer would attend at this facility and help people who are there get access to legal aid. I have some questions about whether or not everybody feels comfortable dealing with our current framework and mechanism for access to legal aid. I want to make sure that those questions are answered. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 201-15(5): Access To Legal Aid Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I will respect the fact that the Minister didn’t mention the name, so maybe I will be cautious at this stage of this next question. If he wishes to mention it, I will leave it up to him. Mr. Speaker, this type of new pilot project initiative about getting potentially a lawyer out there into the community, into an area where people need legal services most, people need advice on what to do. We are talking about people who are at the most risk situation and helping them get out of those terrible situations. So, Mr. Speaker, when does the Minister of Justice see this happening in a timely way? Can he express a period or a range when this new initiative, pilot project or whatever he may call it, when does he see it happening? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 201-15(5): Access To Legal Aid Services

Mr. Speaker, I have asked my department to do some planning. I have set a target of January 1st. I think that is a reasonable time frame. Let me give the Member an example. The Centre for Northern Families in Yellowknife currently has a program where a physician attends to deal and work with some of the clients, I believe, on women’s health issues, issues related to pregnancy, with raising children. I think that is very effective and very important. We know we have clinics throughout the city that people can go to, but I think it has been proven that that is not as accessible for some of the clientele who are in critical need. I would like to replicate that kind of service. I would like to go out and see if there is a demand for this, Mr. Speaker. So that is the kind of example that I will be following up. Thank you.