Mr. Speaker, if the question is whether I have an opinion on whether this particular case had any elements that would resemble deterrence for people in the future from committing the same type of offence, then the answer is, no. I have no opinion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of things that the Member may take comfort in. One of them is in the area of the courts and the justice system in Canada which recently have been focusing some attention on the victims. The courts and the administration of justice should have support and focus on victims. This is a very recent development as far as I know; it has been with us for just a few years. As conservative an institution as justice is, and the bodies of law that we follow, there is still some optimism that most participants in the court and justice system in Canada are focusing some of their attention and energies on the role and plight of victims, whenever justice is being administered.

In the Northwest Territories is commonly expressed by the R.C.M.P., the judges and the courts that this system is not working, in that we have no sense of the results of processing people through the courts. As far as society is concerned, what is the return? We are pumping a great deal of money from the tax payers into a system that is already the most burdened in North America. On a per capita basis, the most money demanded by the rates of crime is in the north. We have to look at alternative means of having justice provided on behalf of the communities. It is commonly expressed by judges and the R.C.M.P., and more and more communities are saying that they want to have a role. They want to have some ownership and participation in the administration of justice. The courts, the Department of Justice and the federal government are all indicating a great degree of interest and support for those communities that want to participate and make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I think the Member requires a written response and she will get that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Justice. The Minister is aware that there were a number of concerns expressed with regard to legal aid in the Auditor General's Report of 1991. He should also recall that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts tabled Committee Report 3-12(2) on June 25, Mr. Speaker, and a follow-up report on October 1. Both of these contain some specific recommendations regarding revision to the legal aid system.

Mr. Speaker, one of the serious problems outlined in this area was the inadequacy of existing information systems within the Department of Justice and the Legal Services Board. When the Public Accounts Committee followed up on the department's response to the June report, the Members were quite disappointed with the apparent slow progress that has taken place to this point.

I would like to ask the Minister if he will advise the House today as to the status of the department's action in upgrading the computer information system to provide managers with the information they need to monitor both costs and the quality of services?

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the situation that the Member is referring to, so I will take the question as notice. Thank you.