Debates of March 14th, 2002

This is page numbers 649 - 694 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Update On Fur Industry Initiatives
Good Luck To Arctic Winter Games Participants
15th Wedding Anniversary
Nunakput Arctic Winter Games Participants
High Cost Of Housing In Yellowknife
Weledeh Arctic Winter Games Participants
American Attitudes Regarding Northern Resource Development
Apologies For Late Arrival
Hay River South Arctic Winter Games Participants
Frame Lake Arctic Winter Games Participants
Literacy Programming
Support For Wildlife Harvesters
Federal Court Ruling On Tax And Treaty Rights
Yellowknife South Arctic Winter Games Participants
Tragic Death Of Young Man
Recognition Of Canada World Youth Program Participants
Romanow Commission On The Future Of Health Care In Canada
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Relocating The Energy Secretariat
Shortage Of Apartments In Yellowknife
Treaty 8 Federal Court Ruling On Taxation
Location Of Energy And Hydro Secretariat
Authenticating Northwest Territories Diamonds
GNWT Liquor Prices
Support For Fur Harvesters
Notification Of Rent Increases
Tabled Document 26-14(5): Market At A Glance, Yellowknife Winter 2002
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
To Delete $220,000 From Legislative Assembly Capital Acquisition Plan (carried)
To Amend Clause 3(2) Of Bill 2, Appropriation Act, 2002-2003 (carried)
To Amend Part 1 Of The Schedule To Bill 2, Appropriation Act, 2002-2003 (carried)
To Amend Part 2 Of The Schedule To Bill 2, Appropriation Act, 2002-2003 (carried)
To Amend The Total Appropriation Of The Schedule To Bill 2, Appropriation Act, 2002-2003 (carried)
Item 20: Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
Tabled Document 28-14(5): Standing Committee On Social Programs' Response To The Health And Social Services Action Plan
Tabled Document 29-14(5): Sahtu Dene And Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Annual Report Of The Implementation Committee, April, 2000 To March 31, 2001
Tabled Document 30-14(5): Inuvik Twin Lakes Mid-term Review
Bill 2: Appropriation Act, 2002-2003
Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Bill 10: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Revert To Item 16: Motions
Extended Adjournment Of The House To June 11, 2002 (carried)
Assent To Bills
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, because page 7-17 is a budget summary, I had actually looked ahead to the details in order to ascertain exactly what was being spent on that program, because the funds from page 7-18 are included on page 7-17. What I am comparing, I am going across the budget line itself right to the 2000-2001 actuals. I am saying that we have a period of two years contained in our budget books. If you look back to 2000-2001, the actual spending was just over $3 million. In 2001-2002, the revised estimates were $2,999,000 and what we are seeing in the main estimates for 2002-2003 is $2,997,000.

It is not a huge drop. We are only talking about $36,000 less in the course of two years, but my point is we have more people trying to access legal aid today than we did two years ago. Inflation has gone up. I am just surprised we have not found a little bit more money to put in the program to at least keep up with the growth in demand.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Cooper.

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

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Cooper

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been discussions between the department's representative, Mr. Sutton, and the executive director of legal aid concerning this issue, because the board of legal aid has represented more than once that it is under-funded. Legal aid has been asked on many different occasions to put forth a submission that we can take forward to make a business case for why an increase is merited.

To put it bluntly, we advised the Legal Services Board that we cannot simply say that we need more money. You have to generate a case for why that is in terms of numbers of cases and so on. That has not been forthcoming.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Dent.

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

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to admit that I am quite surprised to hear that. I would have thought they would be doing whatever it took to put the pressure on to get more money because I have heard that the waiting list is growing for access to their services.

I guess we will have to wait until their application does come forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Page 7-17, public legal services, operations expense, total operations expense, $3,578,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Page 7-19, public legal services, contributions, $300,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Total contributions, $300,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Page 7-21, registries and court services, operations expense, total operations expense, $8,917,000.

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

March 13th, 2002

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Page 7-23. Mr. Braden, did you have a question? Mr. Braden.

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

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just thought I misheard you on page 7-21. I think the number you read in was $8,917 and I believe we are looking at millions there.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. For the record then, total operations expense, $8,917,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Page 7-23, registries and court services, grants and contributions, grants, $3,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Total grants, $3,000.

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Page 7-25, community justice and corrections. Mr. Dent.

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

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I understand one of the big problems with reducing recidivism is when people are released from jail, they often go back to communities and there are not any support programs to help them reintegrate back into society.

Has the department looked at all at working with community justice committees or other agencies in the communities to develop reintegration programs to try and reduce the rate of recidivism?

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

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Allen.

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

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Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, certainly that is one of our main objectives, to help offenders reintegrate back into communities. There are a number of methodologies, most likely using traditional approaches. That is certainly one of our main objectives here, to help those who are incarcerated reintegrate back into the communities. Thank you.