This is page numbers 49 - 72 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Return To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 57

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the honourable Member does appreciate that the judiciary is a separate branch of the government in our political system. Any Minister of Justice, even one concerned about costs, must be cautious about giving directions to judges about how they should do their work. So I want to make it clear that any

savings on the cost associated with courts and court charters, in my opinion, must be reached through the co-operation of the judiciary and not by any directions coming from the government.

Mr. Speaker, I know that my officials have been discussing this matter of the increasing costs of administration of justice in the NWT with the judiciary, with the RCMP and with the Law Society. I do believe that all of those key elements of the system are aware of the escalating costs and are prepared to take the necessary steps to bring those costs down wherever possible, even in the face of increasing crime rates and in increasing demand for their services.

So all I can tell the honourable Member is that I have yet to meet with all the actors in the system, including the chief judges of the territorial and Supreme Court, but I am aware of those concerns and I am aware that the judges are. The briefings I have had have led me to believe that scheduled services have been used, wherever possible and economic, by court parties in the past year and, in fact, charter costs have been reduced. There are times when it is more economical to use a charter, so the rule cannot be a blanket one. But I believe steps are being taken to bring those costs under control as much as possible.

Return To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

That was a bit of a long answer to a simple question. Mr. Todd, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

John Todd Keewatin Central

I hope that the honourable Minister is not suggesting for one minute that judges are immune from this House when it relates to financial aspects of the budget.

Supplementary To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

Further Return To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I am not suggesting that, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Question O45-12(1): Scheduled Airline Services Rather Than Charters For Court Circuits
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice. As we know, time is expensive. I know it is expensive for the lawyers and the judges, extremely expensive, but it is also expensive to have a plane sitting in the communities when it is a charter.

The present court system in the Northwest Territories has to use a language of the accused or the defendant, and we do not utilize simultaneous translation in those court parties. It is a consecutive translation and takes a lot of time to relay the message to the accused or defendant, or to the jury. That is now being practised also in some communities. When will the Justice Minister utilize the simultaneous translation services in the courts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Justice, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for the excellent suggestion. I will take the question as notice and get back to the House as soon as I can. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and is related to a question asked earlier by the Member for Nahendeh. I welcome the fact that we are going to get an update tomorrow on expenditures in connection with Expo '92, but I wonder if the Minister could also advise, given our apparent financial problems, whether the government is reconsidering our participation at Expo '92.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Several days ago, Mr. Speaker, I asked the department to advise me on what commitments we have made and what contracts we have signed, what money we have spent, and whether or not it was possible to perhaps look at curtailing going there. I have not received that back from the department, so I will take the question as notice and report back to the House tomorrow or Friday, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. I had written a letter to the former Minister in August regarding some concerns I had with respect to the way the Workers' Compensation Board operates. One of the policies that the Compensation Board operates under is that Members that have a concern with regard to claims or concerns about their constituents have to go to the Minister rather than dealing directly with the board itself. I would like to ask the Minister, when was this policy directive given and by which Minister, that Members on this side have to go directly to you as opposed to going to the Workers' Compensation Board?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the fact that the honourable Member had been told by the general manager of the WCB that complaints or concerns about the Workers' Compensation Board should be dealt with by the Minister responsible for the WCB and that that policy was established by the board itself. I am aware of that correspondence.

Mr. Speaker, my attitude is that the WCB staff should be encouraged to respond, wherever possible, directly to MLAs if they have concerns about WCB issues, and that it should only be if the matter cannot be resolved at the staff level that the Minister responsible needs to become involved. That is the way it should work, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker. If that is not how it is working right now, then I will look forward to sitting down with the board. I am planning to meet with them at their next meeting in January and sorting out this arrangement so that problems can be dealt with, wherever possible, by staff dealing directly with MLAs; just as I would hope the board would be equally accessible to members of the public. I am willing to have that policy reviewed, Mr. Speaker, so there are not complications in getting problems solved. Thank you.

Return To Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 58

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Supplementary,

Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question O48-12(1): Mlas Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am having a very difficult time with regard to the operation of the Workers' Compensation Board. I do not know how much control the Minister has with regard to the board itself or the kinds of policies that they implement, or the kind of internal rules that they implement with regard to eligibility of claims and that. I realize that the board operates on its own, independently, but I wonder if we should have the board operate more within this government.

I see that we are lacking somewhat in having issues resolved because of this difficulty. I am sure the Minister is having a difficult time in that area as much as ordinary Members are because of the independence of the board, and I would like to ask the Minister whether or not there is a future consideration with regard to a review of the board so that there is some accountability.

Supplementary To Question O48-12(1): Mlas Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 59

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

Further Return To Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 59

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure the honourable Member will appreciate that I am still just getting familiar with the operations of this board, but I do know that there have been no less than two major reviews conducted of the Workers' Compensation Board by an independent body within the last number of years. Before I agree to the idea of another review, Mr. Speaker, I would like to try working out a satisfactory working relationship with the Workers' Compensation Board and its staff by sitting down with the board, describing the issues as I understand them -- and I have already heard comments from MLAs on some of the problems as they view them and I am open to getting other advice from MLAs and others about issues that should be dealt with. But I would like to try to sort those out by sitting down with the members of the board and seeing if new approaches and new policies can lead to better communications, particularly with MLAs.

I would like to ask the honourable Member to give me a chance to see if I can deal with his concerns. If I find that I do not have co-operation from the board, then it may be necessary to review its status in relation to the government. But I would like to take the opportunity to discuss these concerns face-to-face with members of the board and see if they can be solved in that kind of a co-operative manner, and early in the new year.

Further Return To Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Question O48-12(1): Mlas' Contact With Workers' Compensation Board
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. Recognizing that the report, "Strength at Two Levels," states very little with respect to corrections, and recognizing that corrections is currently in the Social Services department, I would like to know if the Minister of Justice will take into consideration to put corrections in the Justice department where it rightfully belongs.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

That statement is a supposition at this point. Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question O49-12(1): Moving Corrections Services To Department Of Justice
Question O49-12(1): Moving Corrections Services To Department Of Justice
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 59

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, Members have been informed by the Government Leader earlier this week that as a priority the government will be proceeding with a recommendation of the "Strength at Two Levels" report on consolidating the Departments of Health and Social Services. In conjunction with that plan, as the cabinet moves to implement that recommendation, I believe that the proper place of the corrections service will be considered in the course of pursuing that amalgamation.

I have had some very preliminary discussions with the Minister of Social Services about that issue, and I think it is an option we will be considering, but I should say at this point that I have not formed any firm conclusions on that subject, other than to say it is an option that Mr. Whitford and I have discussed and it certainly will be explored as we move to implement this recommendation. Thank you.