Okay. Are you referring to page 16, Mr. Koe?
Debates of Dec. 9th, 1993
Topics
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Fred Koe Inuvik
Yes, my colleague Mr. Arvaluk asked three questions and I think they deserve an answer.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Do we have the concurrence that we go back to page 16, in order to accommodate Mr. Arvaluk?
Department Of Justice
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We will wait for Mr. Arvaluk for a few minutes and if the Member doesn't show up, maybe Mr. Gargan can ask the question on behalf of Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Gargan.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Mr. Chairman, can I ask that we go back to Personnel?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, we will deal with page 16, and then we will ask the committee if they want to go back to Personnel. Of course, they will probably say yes. Mr. Arvaluk.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My questions were from page 16, under item three, territorial judge salary increase of $97,000. How many judges are involved here, and what is the percentage of their salary increases? Also, what criteria do they use to justify the increases? I'm sure, because they are judges, that they are not on a merit basis, I would like to know what the criteria is.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Pollard, would you like to answer that question, or do you want to assign them to the appropriate Minister?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. Kakfwi has that information for the Member.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Minister for Justice.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Chairman, there are five judges on the territorial court. The percentage increases came in two stages. We increased the judges' base salaries by 4.9 per cent, effective April 1, 1992 and we increased their base salaries by a further 3.09 per cent, effective April 1, 1993. As well, we increased their salaries, retroactive to what was agreed to in the collective agreement: zero per cent and then 1.8 per cent for 1992-93 and 1993-94, to provide economic increases in line with the other groups.
The increase in their salaries in 1994-95 and future years will be according to the annual economic increases awarded to deputy ministers. But, we recognized that the judges were working much longer hours, under more trying conditions than their southern counterparts, and with a greater workload. As well, they take a lot of time to participate and work with local justice committees. Given the larger than average workload, we suggested that the territorial judges should be paid in the upper range of judicial salaries across Canada. Their wages should be comparable to the senior managers in government, that is, to deputy ministers.
We have moved up in the bracket salary-wise for judges at this level, to a level comparable to and perhaps a little better than in most jurisdictions in Canada, considering the cost of living, the workload, and the working conditions these judges work under. So, it has caught up and is in line with senior managers, or deputy ministers. It has caught up and stays in line with it, based on inflation and whatever increases we give on an annual basis.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We are back on page 16. Justice, operations and maintenance. Are there any further questions on this page? Agreed?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Gargan has requested to go back to page 15, I believe, to Personnel. Do we have the concurrence of the committee that we go back to page 15 and accommodate Mr. Gargan? Agreed?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Department Of Personnel
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 617
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Gargan.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
I would just like to get some clarification. I would like to ask does the department of Personnel have an arrangement with local airlines here, contractual arrangements? I guess the preference would be, when you're in Yellowknife, you charter people from Yellowknife?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, there are a number of companies in the Northwest Territories that the Government of the Northwest Territories charters. I guess, is Mr. Gargan asking that when you're in Yellowknife, the preference is to charter Yellowknife companies? Is that the question? Regardless of what the use of the charter is, or what its destination is? Thank you.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Gargan, would you like to repeat the question?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Mr. Chairman, I need to charter my pages back tomorrow. I've requested Air Providence and the department is saying, "No, we have a contractual arrangement with a local airline here, and you'll have to use them." That's the reason I was wondering where you draw the line, with regard to local preference and outside preference?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, I can understand how that would be somewhat frustrating to the Member. I'm not aware of the situation, so I would respectfully request the Member to perhaps see me after or see Mr. Morin after the session this evening, and we'll try to work out the problem, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 618
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Does that answer your question, Mr. Gargan? Okay. Agreed?