Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for today is for the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Mr. Kakfwi. It is in relationship to concerns that business people and others may have. It is to deal with the small claims court and the amount of dollars that an individual can go to small claims court on. At the present time it is $5,000. My personal opinion, and some feedback I have received, is that it should be higher than $5,000, Mr. Speaker. There are always difficulties on the part of a business if it is $5,500, then you cannot go to small claims court, it has to be done through lawyers and by the judges. I believe even some of the legal people would probably agree with me because some of them are very small claims. Also it would save this government money in court costs if individuals were allowed to argue before the courts that the claim is owed. It saves court time. I know in other jurisdictions there are small claims courts and judges specifically dedicated for this. I am wondering if the Minister would consider having his department look at changing the level and the amount that could be claimed in court under the small claims court by changing it up from $5,000? Thank you.
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
In the Legislative Assembly on April 30th, 1999. See this topic in context.
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the view of the Department of Justice that the limit for small claims is sufficient at this time. If there are some compelling reasons why that should be changed, I am prepared to consider it, so if the Member could advance those to me I would be prepared to review that again. Thank you.
Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Supplementary To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's approach to this that if I had compelling reasons, but I am wondering if the department has compelling reasons why it is not being changed. In my opinion, and I think if the department were to consult with the business community and the individuals in organizations they would likely find that there would be support for this approach, so rather then me coming up with all the compelling reasons which I think my comments are very logical in my mind, I wonder if the Minister can ask for justification from his officials as to why they will not change it? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
April 29th, 1999
Page 478
Further Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I understand it the Department of Justice has decided that there would be no change to the limit at this time. I would be prepared to give the Member, in writing, the reasons that the Department of Justice has for sticking to that decision. I will be prepared to do that, thank you.
Further Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Supplementary To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 478
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Minister could also ask his department if they could get comparisons from other jurisdictions, the provinces and so forth, what the amounts are, and some of the compelling reasons why they are at those levels in those particular jurisdictions? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 479
Further Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 479
Further Return To Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 479