This is page numbers 461 - 501 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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 ---agreed.

Topics

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Not previously authorized, $90,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Total department, $372,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Not previously authorized, $90,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Department Of Justice

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Justice, operations and maintenance, not previously authorized, directorate, $220,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Mr. Koe.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Fred Koe Inuvik

Who authorizes a coroner's inquest on fatalities?

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Fatalities inquiries, Mr. Pollard.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Chairman, there are coroners across the Northwest Territories and they are administered to by the chief coroner. Coroners may order inquests themselves. They may do it in consultation with people in the community. They may do it in consultation with people in the community and the chief coroner, or the chief coroner may suggest this is an area where this should be dealt with by way of inquest. There are a number of things that can happen there, Mr. Chairman. It is generally the local coroner who makes that kind of decision. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Pollard. Directorate. Mr. Koe.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

Fred Koe Inuvik

So has the number of fatalities increased over the years to warrant an increase in the budget, or it is because we have more coroners out there that's causing the increase in the budget?

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Minister Pollard.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 491

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Chairman, over the years, in 1990 there were 108 coroners' cases: in 1991, there were 110 coroners' cases; in 1992, 147 coroners' cases; and, in 1993, 131 coroners' cases. Respectively, in those four years, the number of autopsies went from 12, 29, 54 and then back down to 46. Mr. Chairman, it's not the coroner's call on whether it's

a coroner's case if that's clearly laid down in law and when people such as the RCMP or people in a hospital, under certain conditions, have knowledge of a fatality that comes under the Coroner's Act then they have to notify a coroner. It's not something that can be driven by a coroner, as you well know, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 2nd, 1994

Page 492

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Directorate, $220,000 not previously authorized.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Police services, $140,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Legal aid, $623,000. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Chairman, thank you. Being on the Standing Committee on Finance, I was able to receive the report from the executive director of the Northwest Territories Legal Aid, through the Minister of Justice, about the steps the board is taking to implement the recommendations of Strength at Two Levels, the Legal Services Board's task force on legal aid, the Department of Justice's legal aid action plan and The Justice House report on gender equality. I think that good progress is being made by this new executive director and the board. So I am quite satisfied with the progress.

There is just one comment I would like to make before we approve this. That is, in my opinion, it should be a priority that the Department of Justice consult with the Law Society and prepare a new legal aid tariff which would specify what is known as "A" priority limitations, in contrast to the present after the fact taxation system of billing. I think this would simplify the review of accounts. I think there is nothing wrong with establishing ceilings in advance on certain kinds of work, and I think that that would also result in cost-savings. I would just like to put those comments on the record, Mr. Chairman. I know that work is being considered. In my view, it should be given a priority. Thank you.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Legal aid, $323,000.

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 13: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1993-94
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 492

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Mr. Koe.