Thank you. That defers the department for the time being. Thank you, Mr. Minister and witnesses. Mr. Minister, was that too easy on you?

That would be a rare treat, Mr. Chairman, if Members were easy on me.

Thank you. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Erasmus.

We will continue with the Department of Justice, Mr. Chairman.

There is a motion to report progress. The motion isn't debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is defeated.

--- Defeated

So we are going to continue with the Department of Justice. I am informed that it will take five minutes to get all of the reports for the business. So we will take a five-minute break.

--- SHORT RECESS

Department Of Justice

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Approximately 90 per cent of the budget for the Department of Justice is assigned to deal with individuals going through the justice system. Major budget amounts are allocated to policing, legal aid, courts and corrections.

It is very difficult to control costs in these areas, particularly in the short term. This difficulty stems from a number of factors:

The Northwest Territories has the highest rate of violent crime in Canada. In fact, the rate of violent crime is six times the national average.

The population in the NWT is growing rapidly in the 16 to 25-year age group and this is the group most likely to commit crimes.

The justice system is required to deal with individuals who commit crimes and the way that we currently do this is very costly.

The goal of this budget is to place resources in areas with the most potential to address these very serious social problems. We are striving for a justice system that is more reflective of northern realities and the needs of our northern people. It will not be an easy task to reallocate funds and resources in order to reduce the levels and seriousness of crime in the NWT, particularly when we are committed to a course of fiscal restraint. However, I believe that it is absolutely essential that this be done and this is the approach that is taken in the budget.

Program Areas

Community Justice

Planning for community justice has begun and we will have a report prepared by June 1996. This planning is being done in conjunction with two other initiatives of the social envelope. An interdepartmental working group led by the Department of Health and Social Services is working on a framework and plan for community wellness. Another interdepartmental working group fed by the Department of Justice is working on a plan for improved methods of supervising inmates in the community.

We feel that community-based justice initiatives are critical to the long-term health and well-being of our residents and our communities. These initiatives have the best potential for reflecting the aboriginal restorative approach and they are in harmony with our community wellness and empowerment initiatives.

Policing

Policing makes up close to 40 per cent of the department's total budget. Therefore, this is an area where expenditure reductions could potentially be made in order to meet targets. At the same time, however, there are continual requests to expand policing services particularly in the smaller communities. In addition, because of the rising number of violent crimes being committed, the RCMP are very concerned about the health and safety of their members.

The main estimates that you have before you contain a reduction of less than one per cent of the RCMP's budget. It has been strongly recommended to the RCMP that this entire reduction be taken from "G" Division headquarters administration. As well, we have been working very closely with the RCMP, the federal Solicitor General and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, to explore innovative ways of increasing policing services and encouraging more community involvement.

In October 1995, the Government of the Northwest Territories entered into a First Nations policing agreement with the Solicitor General of Canada. Policing arrangements under the agreement are worked out between the community, the territorial and federal governments. The specifics of the agreement vary from place to place, depending on the interests and concerns of each community. However, the purpose of such arrangements is to allow for the community to be policed by aboriginal members and to ensure accountability to the community for policing services.

In 1995-96, six aboriginal officers were funded under this program. There have been pilot projects in Fort Good Hope and Coral Harbour for the past two years that involve a number of participants from each community serving as community constables. Although the final assessment of these projects has not been completed, indications are that the program has been very successful. We are looking at ways to expand the program into other communities.

Corrections

Our correctional facilities across the Territories are suffering from serious overcrowding. The expansion and maintenance of these facilities has not kept pace with the growing numbers of offenders being put in jail. With the increased pressure to hold offenders, fewer resources have been available to offer treatment and rehabilitation programs.

In this budget, money has been set aside to work with communities to establish programs so that wherever possible, offenders can be placed on community supervision. In order to maintain the target set for future years, the department has been forced to consider the possibility of closing one correctional facility. This is not a desirable means of meeting our budget target and the matter remains under review. I have asked the department to take another look at where further reductions can be accomplished. With limited discretionary funding available to the department and such a large portion of the budget being allocated to policing services, it is possible that in order to keep all correctional facilities operational, reductions would need to be made in the policing budget.

Capital - Corrections

Historically, the capital budget for the Department of Justice has been small and has been used primarily for the acquisition of equipment and for minor renovations to correctional facilities. The capital budget has not been sufficient to provide for major upgrades to the facilities that are necessary from time to time.

In the fiscal year 1996-97, the capital budget is being increased to allow for much needed major renovations to the Baffin Correctional Centre. The Baffin Correctional Centre was built in 1985, as a minimum secure facility. With increases in incarceration over the years and the increased pressure on all of our facilities, more and more violent offenders are being held in this facility. The renovation project contained in this budget will not expand the capacity of the building to hold more inmates, but will make it more suitable to hold inmates who pose a greater risk.

Projects at other facilities have been carried over into the 1996-97 fiscal year due to unanticipated delays in getting started. The Department of Justice has also identified a small amount for equipment and minor projects required in the other correctional facilities.

Capital - Community Corrections Facilities

In June 1995, supplementary funding was approved by the Legislative Assembly for the construction of community correctional centres. Operations and maintenance funding to support these facilities has not been identified. As well, the Standing Committee on Social Programs questioned the rationalization for such facilities and recommended that the department develop a plan for community justice that addresses the role of community correctional centres. In order to allow adequate time to address these issues, the capital funding approved in 1995-96 has been carried over into 1996-97. It is expected that a June 1996 report on community justice will contain recommendations about whether these projects, as presently described in the capital plan, should go ahead.

Legal Services Board

The growth in demand for legal aid services goes hand in hand with the pressures placed on the rest of the justice system. The Legal Services Board has taken significant steps over the last couple of years to reduce and control costs. It is anticipated that even greater restrictions will be imposed in 1996-97 to live within the allocated budget. These include:

- reducing the budgets provided to the regional clinics;

- reducing the board and office administration budgets;

- ceasing to provide funding to the Arctic Public Legal Education and Information Society, and instead administering legal education through the regional legal services clinics;

- reviewing the financial eligibility criteria and placing further restrictions on those who are financially eligible to receive legal aid services;

- implementing rollbacks in the fees paid to the private Bar through amendments to the tariff; and,

- ceasing to provide legal aid for fees in cases of claims for injuries, division of property and wrongful dismissal. In these cases, there will be coverage of disbursements only. These last two measures require an amendment to the Legal Services Act which is being provided for in the Budget Measures Implementation Act.

The full effect of these reduction measures will not be felt until 1997-98. For example, the new fees for lawyers will apply to applications approved after the amended regulations are implemented. Cases presently in progress will be covered by the rates in effect now.

The Legal Services Board continues to place emphasis on a regional model of delivering services, whereby staff lawyers serve as the executive director for regional legal services clinics. Recently, a decision was made by the Legal Services Board to amalgamate the legal services provided in the Beaufort and Delta regions under one board located in Inuvik. It is anticipated that this will be more efficient considering the courts are located in Inuvik and it is a major regional centre.

The executive director position of the Mackenzie Courtworkers' Association is now staffed with a lawyer. This was done so that the association could function as a regulation legal aid clinic similar to the ones in the other regions.

Courts

The courts operating budget has also been reduced. This resulted in one employee being laid off. The remainder of the reductions are expected to be covered off through efficiencies implemented throughout the court services division.

The deputy minister of Justice is working very closely with the judiciary to explore ways to reduce costs and improve the delivery of court services through a recently established Court Planning Committee.

Coroners

Funding for the coroners' program has not kept pace over the years with the number of deaths deemed to require autopsies and inquiries. This program relies heavily on volunteers in communities who act as the local coroner. Regular training is therefore an essential part of the mandate of the chief coroner's office. Funding has been added to this program to cover growth and training.

Administration

Consistent with the overall government priority to streamline administration, the headquarters administration budget of the Department of Justice has been reduced. This includes eliminating one ADM position in the department. The position has been vacant since last November and will not be restaffed. As well, a secretary in the constitutional law division has been laid off.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Act

Under the Budget Measures Implementation Act, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act is to be repealed. No money has been budgeted to cover any applications received during this fiscal year. Any obligations under this act in this fiscal year will have to be covered from other sources.

Revenues

Personal Property Security Act

As Members know, the Personal Property Security Act has been passed and the department has been developing a userfriendly automated system to allow this program to be administered electronically. The computer technology will be state of the art, and this service is being welcomed by the business community in the NWT. This program will pay for itself and actually add resources to the government. In the main estimates, revenues are estimated at $100,000 in 1996-97.

Summary

Mr. Chairman, this budget places great emphasis on community development and community involvement in the justice system. Over time, we expect that this investment will result in fewer crimes being committed and fewer individuals being processed through the criminal justice system.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chairman. I would be happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This particular department is very important to my region and, having to consider it at the late hour, I think we may be rushing through it. Therefore, I would like to move that we report progress. Thank you.

The House will come back to order. We are on item 20, report of Committee of the Whole. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Seconder to the motion? Mr. Picco. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Item 21, third reading of bills. Item 22, Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, May 22, 1996, at 1:30 p.m.

--- ADJOURNMENT