Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

This is page numbers 1951 – 2010 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Update On Early Childhood Development Plan: Education, Culture And Employment Milestone Statement

Enbridge Pipeline Erosion Control Measures

Support For Terrax Minerals Inc.

Improving Consumer Protection

Hay River Rental Accommodation Challenges

Benefits Of Public Service Growth In The Sahtu Region

Yellowknife Rental Accommodation Costs

Resident Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Modern Treaty Implementation

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Emergency Situation Communication Protocols

Yellowknife And Peripheral Area Land Use Management Plan

GNWT Land Use Monitoring Capacity

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Improving Consumer Protection

Rental Office Workload Challenges

Rental Accommodation Subsidies

Land Lease Assessments

Residential Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Social Housing Policy Adjustments

Written Question 21-18(2): Complaints Of Sexual Assault Classified By RCMP As Unfounded

Tabled Document 302-18(2): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission 2015-2017 Strategic Plan

Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 28, 2017

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Lands

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Community Justice And Policing Activity

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 65-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Community Justice And Policing Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

How much of the $726,000 under the line item court reporters is used for contracts and how much is used for our own staff? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that about $400,000 of that goes to the contractor.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Is it the department's opinion that using the contract service is a more efficient use of resources than having our own in-house reporters? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Due to the demands and requirements of the position, we wouldn't have the staff to provide court reporters who are often needed in the outlying communities. I think there has been a reliance on court reporters as long as I have been here. We do not have sufficient staff in-house, and therefore are relying for providers from, I think they are from Alberta. Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess what I am getting at is I think what I see from these numbers and my own knowledge of this service is that the contract services are a more efficient way to deliver the program for less. In the wake of reductions across the board to find efficiencies, why have we not considered axing this staff component part of this in favour of a more efficient way to deliver the service?

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes, of course, we are always looking at ways to make the system more efficient. One of the advantages of using the contractors from Edmonton, it is as-and-when-needed. They have a large pool of people, I think, who work for them so that they can provide court reporters on a timely basis when required. Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

I am going to move off this, Mr. Chair. That is a suggestion I will make for future reductions if we are looking at finding efficiencies. Cabinet colleagues, there you go. There is an idea.

I would like to ask about Wellness Court now. Are we still providing the same level of Wellness Court service as we were in 2017? Going forward, I notice a small reduction. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are providing the same level of service with the Wellness Court. We are very happy with how that program has been operating. I should be clear that that small reduction only relates to work that was required to develop an evaluation framework for the program. Now that that evaluation framework has been done, you see that slight reduction there. The ongoing operation of the Wellness Court isn't compromised in any way. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Mr. Testart.

February 23rd, 2017

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that response. I think it is a great program, and I encourage the department to continue to support it and find ways to expand upon the program. On to sheriff services. I welcome the increase and the new staff positions and also the Minister's response to oral questions I previously have had in this House. That indicated the department was favourable towards expanding the role of sheriffs to fully cover court security and prisoner escort. Where are we at with that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is something that the department continues to look at and is looking forward to reflecting changes as we move forward. Right now, we are still discussing how some of that could work. We look forward to future changes, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Has the department spoken to Nunavut and seen how they have accommodated the shift in their court services function? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nunavut has seen some changes, in particular is the role of RCMP and prisoner escorts, but that has been limited to Iqaluit for now. We certainly have been and continue to have discussions with colleagues in our sister territory. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Mr. Testart.

Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

Topics

Help us improve OpenNWT