Thank you, Mr. Chair. The note there references the Victims of Crime Emergency Fund. What that fund did, and we hope will do in the future is, for example, if an individual is the victim of a property crime, a break and enter, and their door is broken in and they need emergency support to repair that door so that they can be safe again, the fund is available to provide supports to cover that off. So it's expenses that a victim would occur in an emergent situation. The victims services providers across the NWT are aware of this fund and support victims in putting forward requests to access the funds. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Debates of June 23rd, 2016
This is page numbers 763-836 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 mr chair.
Topics
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Haener
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Ms. Green. Is there any further comments or questions? Seeing no further comments or questions, we can return to the department total on page 259. Mr. O'Reilly.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. It's not a question about the court library, so the Minister can breathe a huge sigh of relief. I should have asked this earlier about the office of the regulator of oil and gas operations. Since the staff are government employees, how does the department and the government ensure the independence of this office? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
It is clear, Mr. Chair, that they are at arms-length from the government. I know that there are other models, including models in Saskatchewan, where there is not that separation. So we have agreed to follow a model, rather, that does in our view ensure that separation and therefore their independence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. While it might be clear to the Minister that an arms-length office, can he describe how that happens on a day-to-day basis and so on? Because it's not clear to this Member. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
Mr. Chair, perhaps the deputy minister could be of assistance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Haener
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In terms of the day-to-day operations of the OROGO unit, it's very different from other units within the department. I, as deputy minister, oversee the senior managers within the department. Jamie Fulford who heads up the OROGO unit reports to me for administrative purposes only. Meaning, I approve his leave, I support him in other administrative matters in the unit. Our financial unit supports them in terms of helping them with variances and other expenditure matters, for example.
In terms of the day-to-day operations and the work that's done supporting the regulatory function, they do that on their own. There is reporting through to the regulator, to the Minister as regulator on an ongoing and regular basis. That is done in a separate manner from what would normally be done within the department with other units where there would be discussions, for example, on projects at the senior management table. That is not done with the OROGO unit. I hope that gives some sense of what it means on a day-to-day basis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just want to provide some assurance to the department and the staff that in no way am I questioning the integrity of any of the staff there. I'm just trying to understand how they implement independence. So that's all I've got. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Do you have any further comments or questions? Mr. Testart.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was remiss not to ask this under the court services section. I note the funding has not changed significantly for the sheriff services division. I'm wondering if the department can indicate what the long-term plan for that division is in terms of training and additional duties. There has been some talk, I know discussion with the RCMP about the sheriffs taking a broader role in prisoner escorts and court security. Is there any plan on the Department's side to actually move forward on that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
Mr. Chair, the department is aware of this issue and we continue to work with the RCMP, looking at various models, but no final decision has been made. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
June 23rd, 2016
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
It's not really helpful I suppose, but are we to assume then we'll have status quo for the next -- for the life of this government or are we going to be looking at something -- I only say this because I know it's a complicating factor in our relationship with policing in the Northwest Territories. It was a perennial complaint at the RCMP and the business of court is sometimes frustrated by the lack of available RCMP members, as the department well knows.
I would like to see a more proactive stance than I guess we're not sure of what decision we want to make. And I appreciate that that's where we're at, but I would strongly recommend putting a bit more emphasis on how we're moving forward on this issue, as I am concerned that it's limiting police resources when we have able-bodied sheriffs who can do the work themselves if they were given the proper support and training. Thank you.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Louis Sebert Thebacha
Yes, Mr. Chair, we are looking at options. The model that has been our model here for many years may not be sustainable. We are aware of the issue and we are in discussions or we will have discussions with the RCMP as to next steps. I'm not certain whether changes in legislation would be required. I realize there are other jurisdictions, including the one to our south, Alberta, where the Sheriff's Office does provide many of these services.
It would involve a considerable change, and necessitated change, in the training and support we do provide to the Sheriff's Office and may also require a change of legislation. We are aware of the issue. It's not as though we're stuck in the present situation forever and ever. Discussions at this stage I think are pretty preliminary with the RCMP and in the department. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for a more thorough response, I appreciate that. Needless to say, whatever model we decide to take for providing court security services, there are occasions where Sheriff's officers are asked to do things that the act doesn't enable them to do. Is the department looking at correcting that through amendments to the various pieces of legislation that govern Sheriff's officers and their powers in the courtroom? Thank you, Mr. Chair.