Question.
Debates of March 17th, 1994
Topics
Committee Motion 22-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 21, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 679
An Hon. Member
Committee Motion 22-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 21, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 679
The Chair John Ningark
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Committee Motion 22-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 21, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 679
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Ng.
Committee Motion 23-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 22, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 16th, 1994
Page 680
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Justice make every possible effort to ensure that the new federal firearms legislation, which has already been passed, is applied in the Northwest Territories so as to interfere as little as possible with hunting methods widely practised by northern hunters and families.
Committee Motion 23-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 22, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 23-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 22, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 23-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 22, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Committee Motion 23-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 22, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Ng.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Justice continue to assume the lead role and work with the Department of Social Services to develop an action plan for eliminating violence against all people by the year 2000. The development of the action plan should take into account the results of the Justice House Report, the family law review and Building a Strategy for Dealing with Violence in the NWT. A preliminary report on the overall status of this initiative should be made available to the Standing Committee on Finance at least one week prior to its review of the 1995-96 capital budget.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. We have now progressed into general comments. Since this particular section is comprised of very important subject matter, perhaps Mr. Minister would like to bring in his witnesses? Mr. Minister has nodded his head. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you bring in the witnesses please? Thank you. For the record, Mr. Minister, would you introduce the witnesses?
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is the acting deputy minister of Justice, Graeme Garson. On my right is the director of finance and administration for the Department of Justice, Louise Dundas-Matthews.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome to the committee of the whole. I would remind Members to behave yourselves, we have the Minister of Justice at the witness table. Are we ready for general comments? Mr. Whitford.
General Comments
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
It is good to see Mr. Garson in an acting position in the Department of Justice. I think we need him over at the side and not to get too comfortable. What is the status of the search for the new deputy minister?
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The position was advertised across the country for a number of weeks. The exercise is possibly completed now and there may be, if things are finalized and offers are accepted, a new deputy minister in place within the next few weeks.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. General comments. Mr. Pudlat.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to make some comments and I do have a question. It may not particularly be with regard to your department. I will phrase the question first. We have a lot of problems with Justice. For the people who go through the justice system in the Northwest Territories, it takes a long time. Sometimes when the time comes for the courts to handle the trial, they postpone the trial. For young people, it is quite often that the court date is postponed, so their mind becomes disturbed. When young people are having to wait for so long, it is a great problem in my area. For instance, when their court date is postponed, that disturbs the young people who are under the justice system. Maybe you might not be able to answer this question directly. What possible reasons do you have in postponing things or taking a long time to have these young people going through the system? My constituents would like to know exactly what possible reasons there would be to postpone trials. Is it financial or maybe it is because we have too much work to do in the Northwest Territories? The work load is so heavy we have to keep postponing court dates. You must have a definite reason, possibly financial or the work load. That is my main question, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. The Minister of Justice.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 680
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When Members raise this question, I gather it is from the point of view that members of their constituencies, their families or communities want to know why there is such a long time for courts to dispense with their decisions or conclude the deliberations. I know there are tremendous costs involved in courts. In many cases, for instance, stealing candy from a store may not seem to be a serious offence, nonetheless it does sometimes result in bringing about very costly court proceedings. We find, in many cases, the people who are arguing on behalf of the young adults who are being charged, it is their lawyers who very often ask for a delay to put off court until a later date until they are more properly prepared and have had adequate time to put a case together on behalf of their clients.
There are also problems of weather where court parties are unable to travel according to their original plans. There is the additional problem where sometimes witnesses who are required by the courts do not show up or are unable to make it on the proposed court dates. There is also the problem of money, so that we are unable to make it convenient for everyone by increasing the number of lawyers, courts and judges to try to make the courts take care of their business in a much more expedient fashion. I'm not certain, even if we did, that we could speed the process up. I know it is tiresome and people find it very frustrating but, as I understand it, those are some of the reasons why it appears in many cases it takes months and months to conclude business with certain people who are called to the courts. Thank you.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 681
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Pudlat.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 681
Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Your answer is appreciated. I'm not just talking about minor charges, I'm talking about very serious charges that have to be dealt with through the justice system. I'm not just concerned about murder charges, but for other more serious charges. We all know these reasons. Maybe we'll have reason to be happier about the future when there is a better relationship with the justice system and it considers cultural factors in the communities. When the majority of native people have started to take over the justice system, it will be much easier on the native people they have to deal with.
Committee Motion 24-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 23, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 681
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. I don't know if there was a question there. Mr. Kakfwi.