Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The point I am trying to make is that there is a process which is presently underway especially in regard to the MacKenzie Delta and also Dogribs and other aboriginal organizations are seriously looking at the way Justice is being delivered to the people they represent. If through those processes of negotiations for the aboriginal groups in which one of the items they have a right to negotiate is Justice. This department who is responsible for Justice, the last time I checked, has the fundamental right to ensure that they have the ability to negotiate all aspects of Justice that effect the aboriginal people in question. In the case, I used an example in the Yukon where their precedent has been set where they do have the right to establish their own justice systems for the aboriginal groups in the Yukon. Here, the Department of Justice has a legitimate role to play in those negotiations. You cannot snuff it off to someone else. It is the Department of Justice's budget that will have to allocate and distribute those funds for the administration of the courts, the correction facilities if they are established through that system and also, the overall costs of operations and maintenance and administration of that system once it is established. I find it appalling to have to say that you do not have a role in regard to the aboriginal self-government initiative which is established through section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. It recognized the inherent right for people to negotiate that. They are negotiating in the provinces; they are negotiating on reserves; they are negotiating through land claims agreements such as the umbrella agreements in the Yukon in regard to looking at justice arrangements in British Columbia and right across the country. This government does have a role to play in regard to the processes that are in place now and if we do not, come right out and say it, my view is there is a role for this government to play.
David Krutko on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 18th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 18th, 1998
Page 915
See context to find out what was said next.