Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments in regard to the budget for Justice. Initially, I believe that the position of the chief coroner is being reinstated to a government position and I do support that. I think that’s a good move.
Also a good move I think is the emphasis on increased policing. We’ve added some members and a detachment in this last year, and I will have some questions as to the timing of the planned rollout of other detachments as we go forward when we get to that section.
I also note that there’s an increase in legal aid services with the establishment of, I forget what it’s called, but there is a new office being established and I totally support that. I think that we have quite a lack of legal aid services and anything that we can do to increase that and to provide services to our residents is going to be a benefit.
I am supportive of the Not Us! campaign, which the Minister brought to the House in a statement a little while ago. It sounds like it’s going to be a good program and I think it’s probably going to generate some excitement in some of the communities. My concern is that there be an evaluation of the program after six months or a year to see whether or not it’s working. I would hope that if this budget comes back to us in a year’s time, that there will be some indication whether or not this program is working and whether there’s some results from it. I know, you know, a year is often not long enough, but I would encourage the Minister to plan to do an evaluation.
Similarly, we recently started two new programs, a mediation and parenting programs after separation and divorce. I believe those started maybe six or eight months ago, and I guess I would like to also encourage the Minister in this area to provide an evaluation of whether or not these programs are working well or not working, but just an evaluation in general so that we, again, know whether or not these new programs that we put in place are actually being beneficial. So just down the road, I would be looking for evaluations on those two programs.
I am encouraged that we are continuing with the Action Plan on Family Violence and that we are putting phase 2 into place. I know this is several departments that are doing this program together, and I know Justice does have a hand in it, so I’m glad to see that there’s some money in the budget to encourage parts of this program and that Justice is taking one part of it.
My last comment. The Minister has heard this before and I will continue to push this issue, but I think there is a need within the government and the Territory for an ombudsman’s office, and I would encourage the Minister and the department to look at this issue again. I know he has told me that it’s
been looked at a number of years ago and it was determined that it wasn’t necessary, but more and more and more I am seeing, my office is seeing difficulties that residents have with one body or another and it just points me more and more in the direction of the need for an impartial person outside the courts to deal with some of these disputes. That’s all I have. Thanks, Mr. Chair.