Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of concerns raised by Indigenous activists about the integrity or procedural fairness in our justice system. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if he has taken any steps to review these concerns and how they apply to our role in the Canadian justice system? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot, of course, and it would be improper for me to, discuss any specific case before the courts, but there has been a good deal of commentary about the jury system across Canada. I can advise that I have been thinking about this issue and would like to hear from the public and also from members of the local bar who practice in this area. I am a little concerned that radical changes to the jury system would be ill advised. This system has served us well for a thousand years.
I do have some familiarity with the jury system, as the former jury administrator for this government. I am pleased to hear the Minister is considering opening this discussion up to the public. Is this just an idea he is having, or is he planning on launching some sort of public consultation on these, the issues that have been raised around fairness in our justice system?
No, I was not thinking of having a public consultation. I, too, have a good deal of experience with the jury system and have found that it has worked very well in our jurisdiction, dealing with many jury trials in my home community of Fort Smith and also in at least one or two other communities. I certainly will, and I often do, meet with members of my profession and would like to hear from them. Certainly, if the public wishes to write me or contact me in some way, I would also be interested in hearing their concerns, but I am not planning any formal public process at this time.
I appreciate this is a sensitive issue, but it is also an important issue, and people need to be heard. I might be asking the wrong Minister, but if the Minister could talk to the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and perhaps consult with that Minister to develop a consultation, a round table discussion, anything really, it does not have to be terribly expensive, but can the Minister commit to having some sort of public engagement around these issues and the broader issue of reconciliation in the Northwest Territories and Canada?
Of course the legislation, the criminal legislation, is a federal concern, and I think that it would be more appropriate for the federal Minister to be addressed in this area. The Member also alluded to the broader area of reconciliation, and Members will know that the Government of the Northwest Territories is dedicated to that concept of reconciliation.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just because it is a federal issue does not mean we do not have a responsibility to raise these issues that are being raised by our constituents and by people who are leading rallies and protests outside this building to get our attention, so will the Minister commit to bringing this to the federal Minister of Justice or to the FPT table to see if there can be a national conversation or see if the NWT can join the national conversation, and if he can find a way to do this without delay? Thank you.
I imagine this matter will be discussed at the next FPT so, should it be on the agenda, certainly we will be involved with that discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
