Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 2005-06 Department of Justice main estimates. These estimates offer details on how the department will allocate its resources to meet its mandate of administering justice, including corrections and policing, in the Northwest Territories.
The 2005-06 operational budget for the department is $79.8 million. This is an increase of .58 percent of approximately $460,000 from last year's main estimates. This increase will help make our communities safer and improve access to legal aid services.
Seventy percent of our total budget will be spent on law enforcement, community justice and corrections. The department has six main areas of activity.
Services to government: The department provides legislative drafting and legal counsel to all GNWT departments. It is, in effect, the government's law firm.
We are also implementing the Protection Against Family Violence Act. This work will include monitoring the impact of the legislation providing ongoing training to community workers and distributing public information to people all over the NWT. There is $9 million budgeted for services to government.
Law enforcement: The RCMP delivers policing services in the NWT under contract. This year, 10 new RCMP positions will be created. This is in addiction to the 12 positions added in the past two years. The funding will add six officers who will be assigned to detachments in Rae, Fort Providence, Yellowknife and Tuktoyaktuk. Three officers will form a traffic unit, and two of those positions will be based in Hay River. The final positions will be a full profile police dog and handler. We have budgeted $24.3 million for law enforcement activities.
Legal aid services: To improve public access to legal aid services, a dedicated Family Law Legal Aid Services Clinic has been opened. The main estimates include new funding in the legal aid services budget to support the ongoing operation of the new clinic. The Legal Services Board is responsible for the Court Worker Program, public legal education and for ensuring that all eligible NWT residents receive legal services. The GNWT and the federal government together provide $4.5 million for legal aid services.
Courts: NWT courts are impartial, timely and accessible. The total budget of $7.9 million includes operating the Justice of the Peace Court, Territorial Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, along with the court libraries and court reporters.
Community justice and corrections: The department has budgeted $31.1 million for adult and young offender facilities, probation and parole services, custodial placement programs like wilderness camps and the cultural programs that help in the rehabilitation of offenders. This money also funds programs that help prevent crime within communities through increased community participation, that support victims' initiatives, and that support community justice needs.
Services to the public: The total of $3 million includes funding for public services like the coroner's office, the public trustee, the rental office, legal registries and the Maintenance Enforcement Program.
Those are the key points of the 2005-06 Department of Justice main estimates. Thank you, Madam Chair.