Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. The Minister knows there is an urgent need to upgrade and redesign the computerized information system within the legal aid system. This has been identified as a financial management priority by the Auditor General of Canada and it was referred to in the report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, brought before this House earlier in the current fiscal year. I was pleased to hear the department has finally hired a systems manager, but I am concerned that progress on this important initiative is going to continue to be slow. Does the Minister have a timetable for completing the entire overhaul of the legal aid information system?
Debates of March 3rd, 1993
Topics
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 721
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 721
The Speaker
Minister of Justice.
Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 721
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, it is our hope that by the end of the 1993-94 fiscal year all information requirements will have been determined by the department and the legal services board, and that we can begin the final development of the new system or the modification of an existing system, perhaps from another jurisdiction. We think it is going to take some time, because we are in a period of change. As I understand it, the systems which are being suggested to us are intended to provide managers with the information required to monitor costs and the quality of services provided. We know that Members want some clear deadlines as to when these systems will be developed and when the systems will be put in place. I understand that the legal services board presently has a computer information system in place but it does not meet the complete management information requirements called for by the Auditor General or needed by the Department of Justice or legal services board. We all appreciate the inadequacies of the system and hope to
upgrade the current system by October of this year. That is just a short-term measure. The long-term is going to be working towards an entirely new automated system. We will be working with the Department of Government Services and Public Works to develop a terms of reference for a new management information system. We will need to identify the costs associated with the development of such a system to save money and to avoid re-inventing existing systems. We will check with other jurisdictions with regard to available systems. Thank you.
Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Justice again, has the department provided any projection on the capital costs of improving the legal aid information system? How much are we going to have to spend on purchasing new computer equipment?
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, we will be working with the legal services board between now and the end of this upcoming fiscal year. That is, throughout the 1993-94 fiscal year we will be working with the legal services board and with the Department of Government Services and Public Works to look at developing a terms of reference for a new management information system. Once we do that, we will start to work on identifying how much the development of such a system will cost. Once the terms of reference are developed with the other agencies, we will be able to begin developing an idea of the cost of a new system.
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Minister refers to the legal services board, is he referring to the legal aid board itself?
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Your final supplementary, Mr. Gargan.
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, to the Minister of Justice. The Auditor General's report pointed out a number of areas in which the audit trail pertaining to legal aid transactions is incomplete. Can the Minister assure the House that the system will be sufficient to include all the information which is necessary to carry out a full audit of money disbursed under the legal aid program?
Supplementary To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Mr. Kakfwi.
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, part of the work is going to be to determine both the information requirements of all boards and the agencies involved. We will look at the requirements of the legal services board. The executive director of the board will be involved along with the Department of Justice management, other territorial government management bodies, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics and, last but not least, the Auditor General. The information requirements of these people will have to be taken into account to ensure the information these people require will be provided by this new system. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 405-12(3): Timeframe For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Question 405-12(3): Timetable For Overhaul Of Legal Aid Information System
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.
Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Ludy Pudluk High Arctic
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is further to the question which was raised yesterday by the honourable Member, Mr. Pudlat, regarding education. I am directing my question to the Minister of Education. He raised the issue that there were some communities requesting grade extensions. The Baffin regional board of education stated in January that there were some communities in the Baffin which wanted to extend their grades. There were three communities which have requested grade extensions and they are being considered at this time. My constituency of Arctic Bay, I believe, has requested a grade extension. Will that particular community be considered by this government? Thank you.
Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Mr. Nerysoo.
Return To Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been the practice of previous Ministers and myself to have the board of education receive the request from the particular community to consider extension of grades. Once the board has reviewed the situation, they will forward that particular request to me. I do not know whether or not that request has been forwarded, but I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that I am not opposed to the request. However, I would ask for board involvement in making that decision because it does affect their financial resources.
Return To Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Question 406-12(3): Inclusion Of Arctic Bay In Grade Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 722
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.
Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 723
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Transportation regarding recent changes to the government in Alberta and the new Transportation Minister. Not long after he became the transportation Minister, he made some changes with regard to the inspection of big rigs on the highway, where there has been a reduction in the number of spot checks and rig inspections. Mr. Speaker, the transportation industry is not at all happy with that. Many truckers take pride in their rigs and want to ensure they are properly maintained. Vehicle inspections prevented fly-by-night operators from operating on the highway, and this reduction in inspections may see a return to unsafe rigs if it is allowed to go ahead. Is the territorial government, who operates several vehicle inspection stations in the territories, planning any such reduction to follow suit with the neighbouring province?
Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 723
The Speaker
Minister of Transportation.
Return To Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 723
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, to the contrary. I am not aware of any reductions in vehicle inspections on behalf of the Northwest Territories, but I can discuss it with the department officials. As far as I am aware, there is no intention to reduce any inspections that have currently or previously been in place. Thank you.
Return To Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 723
The Speaker
Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.
Return To Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Question 407-12(3): Reduction In Vehicle Inspections
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 723
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. For several months last summer, one of the groups of the Great Slave freshwater fisheries raised problems they were having with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. Some of the group representatives met with the Minister and the Government Leader, but -- no, this is the wrong question, Mr. Speaker. I think I asked this question already. Sorry. Mr. Speaker, my eyes are just starting to open now.