Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice. It is with regard to the funding of the Beaufort/Delta legal services clinic for funds that have been allocated to service contracts to service clients who need legal aid. It has been noted with regard to the number of resources that have been allocated to other jurisdictions with regard to the legal services. As you will note, the Mackenzie Delta, at one time, had two legal services: Arctic Rim Law Society, which is based out of Tuktoyaktuk; and, Mackenzie Delta Legal Services, out of Inuvik. Since then, they amalgamated to form one, called the Beaufort/Delta Legal Services Clinic.
With regard to the amount of resources that are going to be allocated this year for $260,000 to maintain the two operations into one, if you figure it out based on percentages and the number of clients and court activity, as well as the cost, to date the Beaufort/Delta in the past year have had 4,660 court cases. Other areas, such as the Keewatin, had 1,443. Those clients, in the case of the Beaufort/Delta have received $260,000. The Kitikmeot, $200,000 works out to an average per court appearance of $138.60. Yet, the Beaufort/Delta works out to $55. That's almost two-thirds less than what is being spent there.
Just to use another scenario; for instance, in the last 10 months of 1995-96, the number of applications in the Kitikmeot was 205 which works out to almost a $976 cost per applicant, yet the Mackenzie-Delta with 297 works out to $870. Between those two costs, it works out to about $100 difference.
In closing, I would like to ask the Minister to see if there's a possibility of reviewing the funds that will be allocated for 1996-97 with regard to the Beaufort/Delta, and also all services in the Northwest Territories, to maintain that all individuals who apply for legal aid will have adequate resources available to them and also allow for the funds to be allocated equally right across the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.