Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation reviewed Bill 14, Nunavut Judicial System Implementation Act, at its meetings on November 24 and 26, 1998, here in Yellowknife.

The committee would like to thank the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo and his officials for presenting the bill and responding to issues raised by the committee.

Bill 14 establishes a single-level trial court system for Nunavut. It replaces the Judicature Act and Territorial Court Act with a new Nunavut Judicature Act, and replaces the Justices of the Peace Act with a new Nunavut Justices of the Peace Act. It also makes consequential amendments to several other Nunavut statutes.

The current court system in the Northwest Territories, and indeed in the rest of Canada, has two levels of trial courts, Madam Chairperson. In the Northwest Territories these are the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court. The other components of the NWT justice system are the Justice of the Peace Program and, Madam Chairperson, the Court of Appeal.

This bill, Madam Chairperson, will combine the functions of the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court into one court - the Nunavut Court of Justice. Nunavut will also have justices of the peace and we will also have a Court of Appeal.

Related amendments are also being made by the federal government in Ottawa to federal statutes. The federal statutes, the Nunavut Act, the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Young Offenders Act specifically for Canada are also being amended to change.

Key of the single-level trial court are:

* All of the judges would be superior court judges appointed by the federal government;

*A judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice would have the jurisdiction to hear all matters currently heard by the Territorial Court and the Supreme Court;

*The Nunavut Court of Justice would hear minor and major criminal offences, all civil matters and all aspects of family law cases.

Madam Chairperson, it is hoped and expected that a single-level trial court will reduce delay in the administration of justice in Nunavut, as well as reducing administrative and travel costs.

Committee members recognize that another consequence of this bill may be that justices of the peace will deal with more matters at the community level. That should be a good thing, Madam Chairperson.

Madam Chairperson, this bill implements a system that will be new to Nunavut, and also new and unique to Canada. Committee members realize that much hard work and preparation has gone into the development of this bill. At the same time, there is much yet to be done to ensure that the new court system is implemented smoothly and works well for the people of Nunavut.

Madam Chairperson, Committee members support this bill and look forward to seeing a justice system put in place for Nunavut that can deal with matters quickly, comprehensively and expeditiously in a manner that respects the culture and values of the people of Nunavut.

This concludes the special committee's comments on Bill 14, Nunavut Judicial System Implementation Act. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.