Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. I am going to ask Ms. Sanders to make a comment on that.

Assistant deputy minister, Ms. Sanders.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do have JPs in many communities and there are other places where we do not have JPs or where we could use an additional JP. At the moment we are not in a position to do active recruiting. In most places, we do not have the regional staff who would be there to do that, but where a community wants to have a JP, especially if they have someone who they could recommend, we are quite receptive to having those kinds of recommendations. The appointments are never made without that kind of community support. Certainly, if the community wishes to be proactive and come forward with recommendations, that is normally welcome. It is very important to have JPs from within the community. With the respective community members, it links the community with justice because it is again, someone from the community who can work with the justice committee.

Thank you. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple points. One is that I agree with the Member that it is important to have JPs. It is also true that there are a few communities that do not have JPs. The number I have for the department is a total of 183 JPs in the NWT that are supervised by the Chief Judge of the Territorial Court. The Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Chief Judge, is trying to improve the administration of JPs, which would include recruiting. I understand that a position for a JP administrator was advertised in the last few months and we hope one will be hired soon to start working on improving this. Keeping in mind the fact that, because they are supervised by the Chief Judge, there is a line between the Judge and the Department of Justice and we have to respect that. It is fundamental that we have that separation and we continue to work together to make this program a success.

Thank you. Registries and court services. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the areas that I wanted some more information on was the Justice of the Peace Program. I understand that we are supposed to be getting a justice of the peace coordinator. Obviously, it is a very important position. One of the recommendations was that we get someone who is very familiar with the north and with the people in the north. Has this position been advertised and filled yet?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I indicated earlier, the position for JP administrator was advertised in the fall of 1997, at the request of the Chief Judge who is the JP supervisor. Although there have been some delays in hiring someone to fill this position, we are very hopeful that in the not too distant future the position will be filled. I agree that the position is important.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus.

Will this position be re-advertised, then?

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would have to confirm whether or not it would be re-advertised or at what stage the hiring process is at. The Department of Justice is involved as far as administration of the hiring process goes, but in the end it is the Chief Judge who makes the final decision. We do not have the information in front of us but we can find that out.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could we get clarification as to why the competition was not brought to fruition? Why was someone not hired? Usually when you run a competition, you go through and you hire someone or else the competition is over, you withdraw it for some particular reason. Why was someone not hired? Was there no one qualified enough that had applied? What reason is it?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I cannot say at this point in time what part of the hiring process has caused this delay, whether it had to do with personnel issues or qualifications, et cetera. As I understand, it takes a special person to be a JP administrator. The person requires a rounded knowledge, experience and also requires the confidence of the Chief Judge and the department.

Thank you. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of the Coroners Program, one of the concerns that I had brought up some time ago was the fact that there is a lack of space in the communities to hold and prepare bodies for burial or for travel. Has there been any headway made in this area? Obviously, this can be a health hazard if the proper facilities are not present for people working with bodies. Has there been any headway made in this area?

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.