Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Picco on November 29, 1996 with respect to the appointment process for a Supreme Court justice for Nunavut. The appointment of a Supreme Court judge is the responsibility of the federal government. However, the government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for the administration of the court which includes such matters as facilities for the judges and the court, as well as the personnel to support the maintenance of the court, such as court reporters, clerks and the sheriff's office.

The Department of Justice has determined that there will be incremental costs if a judge were to be appointed and based in Nunavut. The department does not currently have the resources to cover these costs and it has asked the federal government to cover the incremental costs as a cost of division of the Northwest Territories. Once funding for incremental costs has been identified and the structure and composition of the Nunavut court is clarified, steps can be taken to appoint a Supreme Court judge in Nunavut. It is expected that this will happen within the next 12 months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.