Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the need for a new territorial courthouse. Needs have certainly changed, but the space has not. You can only reorganize the existing courthouse so many times before it becomes unpalatable. I just want to say two more things, which is, the courthouse as it exists now doesn’t flow nicely when you consider the responsibility and sensitivity needed towards sexual assault victims where sometimes accused, the victims and the witnesses are all huddled together in the same area. It just makes it unpalatable.
The last thing I want to say on this point is, quite often when the judges call people to appear before court, whether it’s the day’s docket or for jury duty, they’re not only in the room standing against the walls, they’re standing out in the hall, down the spiral staircase, and into the first floor. All problems with the existing courthouse.
My question will be to the Premier. Will the Premier direct the program review office to review the functionality of our existing courthouse, and weight and balance that fairly to evaluate the need for a new independent courthouse to serve the citizens of the Northwest Territories, and ensure that people are getting justice safely and fairly?