Next for general comments I have Ms. Bisaro.
Debates of Oct. 6th, 2015
This is page numbers 6699 – 6756 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 going.
Topics
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. My concern when we discussed this act was similar to Mr. Dolynny and it was that there’s an anticipation that there would be a lot more people working off their surcharges through the Fine Option Program. We asked the question and we didn’t really… It was sort of the same question that was asked here already, but we didn’t really get a definitive answer. The answer to Mr. Dolynny suggested to me that there’s no expectation that the number of offenders working off their surcharges through the Fine Option Program is going to increase. I guess I’d like to get that confirmed. It would seem to me if we are making these amendments to the act that there’s going to be a lot more offenders who will be able to work off their surcharges through the Fine Option Program.
So I guess I would like to ask the Minister and the department, do you not expect that you’re going to get more people working off their surcharges and that there is going to be an impact on the correctional service? Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, it would be more beneficial if we had folks working off their surcharges as opposed to getting nothing. That’s why it’s the way it is. Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
Thank you. I’m not suggesting it’s not beneficial, but the question is are you not anticipating more offenders will be working off their surcharges through the Fine Option Program and they are going to be monitored and they’re going to be supervised by corrections services staff? So do you not see that there’s going to be an increase in the work involved by your corrections staff? Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you. They’re usually working off their fines anyway. So now they’d be having the ability to work off the surcharge as well. So we don’t anticipate any further workload. Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
Okay, thank you. So maybe I’m confused, but it begs the question to me why are we making the amendment? I thought we were making the amendment to make it easier for people to work off their fines and their surcharges and if that’s the case, we’re opening it up so that more offenders can work off their fines and their surcharges. Am I incorrect in that? If we have more offenders working them off is that not more work for staff? Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. Prior to the amendments they didn’t have the ability to work off the surcharge. That’s the difference. Thank you.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just for clarification on this bill, is it flexible enough that the offenders would be in their home communities working off their surcharge in the Fine Option Program? So a modern chain gang type of a method here.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kemeys-Jones
Thank you, Madam Chair. Generally if the fine is given in the community then they would be working off the surcharge in their home community. There are times when someone is incarcerated and they have a fine and a surcharge, as well, and in those circumstances people in the facility would assist the inmate to work off the fine and surcharges prior to their release.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
Thank you for the clarification, Ms. Kemeys-Jones. I want to ask about the Fine Option Program specifically in the communities that the offender then would work off their Fine Option Program through… Is it flexible enough that they could work it off through a community type of initiative? Say for example elders, they can go out to a fish lake; they can set the fishnets and provide fish for some of the elders and some of the older people for that type of initiative. So they would work it off and provide to the community as a whole to pay off their fine.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kemeys-Jones
Yes. The program is flexible enough to allow communities to make decisions on what they would consider to be work in the community and a lot of times it is volunteer work in the community and much of the time that’s for elders.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Detail.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Detail. Okay, thank you. If Members could refer to their clauses, clause 1.
---Clauses 1 through 5 inclusive approved
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Agreed. Thank you. Bill 63 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Minister Ramsay. I will turn the floor over to Minister Ramsay.
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to mention to the House that it’s the last time Ms. Kemeys-Jones is going to be appearing at the witness table at the Legislative Assembly. I want to thank her for all her work and I’m sure Members join me in thanking her very much for all her years of dedicated service to the people of the Northwest Territories. Thanks.
---Applause
Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
October 6th, 2015
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Minister Ramsay. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he will please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
At this time, committee, at the Chair’s prerogative, we will have a break. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS