Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice whether he will confirm that four victims' services programs in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Yellowknife and Fort Smith will be receiving no funding in this coming fiscal year.
Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
In the Legislative Assembly on March 6th, 1995. See this topic in context.
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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.
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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
Just over three years ago, Mr. Speaker, everybody in this House was delighted to hear that we were going to look at victims of crime and not spend all our time looking at offenders and the offences. So, would the Minister confirm that we are back where we started, just dealing with offenders and we're no longer concerned with the victims of crime?
Supplementary To Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
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Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, no, I cannot confirm that. Currently, there is a hold put on the intended cut to the budget, as is reflected, and we're reviewing the recommended cut to victims' assistance. In the budget, it shows that it has been cut but we're currently reviewing that. Thank you.
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.
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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
That's good news, Mr. Speaker, that this issue is under review. I would like to ask the Minister whether a decision will be made during the time we will be sitting in this session of our Legislature.
Supplementary To Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
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Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, we have a need to review all previous commitments, particularly ones that were started by the federal government. As the Member knows, the assistance to victims program was started by the federal government some years ago. They provided all the funding. The federal government has now long since left and is no longer providing any funding.
The number of people who are turning to this program is escalating. That is, the potential liability of the program is going to increase substantially over the next few years. In light of the fiscal outlook of this government, it was one of the areas that I recommended and put forward as a reduction for future government. But it appears that the initiatives we have under community justice, under community transfer initiatives and under the community wellness strategy, are all elements that we had thought would be positive elements that would alleviate the amount of social problems, the amount of crime committed and lend itself to alleviate the need for these types of programs.
As well, we had visited the question of whether the state is responsible for victims of crime. That is a very difficult, philosophical question to address. It is a question that all of us have to address before we get into the fundamentals of this program.
At this time, it's still on the books so we will be doing a review in Cabinet as to whether we will proceed with this at this time. Thank you.
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Lewis, your final supplementary.
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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's always a debate as to how much the state should be responsible for various social programs, either in terms of causing them within our society or fixing them after they've been committed. Is this one more example of the federal government off-loading programs that they are instrumental in initiating, but then walking away from them once the big public demand is there?
Supplementary To Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
Question 245-12(7): Status Of Funding For Victims' Services Programs
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March 5th, 1995
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Kakfwi.
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Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Yes, Mr. Speaker, this is a classic case of the government taking political merit for initiating a program that costs money and providing some initial seed money and then withdrawing to the detriment of this government. We are reviewing the situation, as I said.
Many other jurisdictions -- I can't be specific, but about half of the jurisdictions in this country, have withdrawn or begun to withdraw this particular program because of the cost, and also because of the fundamental question on whether or not the state is responsible for victims and the costs incurred by victims as a result of crimes committed against them. Thank you.
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.