Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

This is page numbers 1991 - 2054 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 community.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 145-18(2): Progress In Negotiating Land, Resources And Self-Government Agreements
Western Canada Lottery And Sutcliffe Report
Department Of Justice Progress Report On Governance Access And Privacy
New Behchoko Sports And Recreation Complex
Fortieth Anniversary Of Northern United Place
Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories
Small Business Incentives
Hockey Tournaments In Nahendeh
Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy
Benefits Of Sport And Traditional Games For Indigenous Athletes
Aklavik Road Repairs
Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous Peoples
Strategy For Revitalization Of The Great Slave Lake Fishery
Committee Report 7-18(2): You Are Standing For Your People: Report On The Review Of The Members’ Conduct Guidelines
Motion To Receive Committee Report 7-18(2) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous People
Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories
Critical Incident Investigation Recommendations
Process For Filling Unfunded Positions
Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy
Arsenic Levels In Kam Lake
Earnscliffe Strategy Group Contract
Western Canada Lottery And The Sutcliffe Report
Aklavik Road Repairs
Housing Engagement Survey
Lobbyist Registry Proposal
Junior Kindergarten Funding And Implementation
Tabled Document 303-18(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories Response To Committee Report 3-18(2): Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report
Tabled Document 304-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 477-18(2): Housing Engagement Strategy
Tabled Document 305-18(2): Federal Lobbyist Registration For Earnscliffe Strategy Group
Tabled Document 306-18(2): White Paper On The Independence And Accountability Of Election Administration In The Northwest Territories
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Justice
Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity
Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Sport, Recreation And Youth Activity
Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Municipal And Community Affairs
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I wonder if the Minister could tell us about the difference between the estates clerk who is listed on this page and the office of the public trustee who was listed on page 280? On the face of it, it looks like they do the same thing, which is manage the estates of the deceased. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Certainly, it is essentially the same job, but I understand that the estates clerk position identified on page 282 is work done on behalf of Canada. The public trustee would be doing that kind of work, and other work in addition, as I understand it. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I didn't understand that answer. Could the Minister please elaborate?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert, to the question.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Chair, the estate clerk position is funded from money from Canada and, as it says in the notes, the Government of the Northwest Territories administers the estates of Aboriginal persons. I think that goes back to, perhaps, the Indian Act and the requirements of the federal government, the fiduciary duty they have. So it is part of what the public trustee's office does, but not all. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That maybe is a little bit clearer, but I thought that the public trustee's office was available to anyone, that it was not defined by ethnicity. Am I right about that? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Deputy Minister Goldney.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is indeed correct. The public trustee does serve the public and residents of the Northwest Territories. This budget item, though, simply reflects that, as part of the public trustee's work, that office does enjoy some federal funding under a program directed specifically to Aboriginal people to help manage their estates, so that is why it is reflected the way it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Deputy Minister Goldney. Ms. Green.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, what I understand is that this is all one office, but there are two streams of funding. Is that correct?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

That is correct. This funding identified on page 82 is additional funding to the money that we put into the public trustee's office. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

I have no further questions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

February 27th, 2017

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Further questions? Seeing no further questions or comments on the information items, we will now turn to the departmental total on page 253. There are two information items related to the department total, found on pages 254 and 255. These include the revenue summary and the activity position summary. Any questions or comments to these information items? Recognizing Mr. Simpson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last time, one of my colleagues brought up the issue of Affirmative Action hiring by the department. I was wondering: how many lawyers does the Department of Justice employ, and how many of those are P1? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

The department of Justice currently has three P1 lawyers. They also have three southern Aboriginal lawyers. Of note, there have been two P1 lawyers who have left the department in the recent past for other opportunities. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Simpson.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So how many total lawyers are employed by the Department of Justice? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the number, including legal division, legal aid, the rest of the government, and land legislation division, is about 40. Thank you.