Thank you. Committee, any further questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I want to thank my colleague from Yellowknife Centre for asking questions about the victim assistance funds. I just had a couple of quick ones, perhaps. Can the Minister tell us why the surplus is growing? Is it an issue of not enough applications to use up the funding, or are applicants being turned down? What is going on? Why is the surplus building? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Sebert.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, disbursements of funds, if I can put it that way, are based on the applications that we do receive, and I do see that many of them tend to be modest. The money is available, so as I said earlier, I think we can have a conversation with the committee about the opportunity to come forward or have those organizations, such as the Native Women's Association and Justice Committees, to come forward and seek funding. Perhaps we are not disseminating enough information or the committee isn't. Certainly, we are willing to work on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, I am glad that the Minister is going to have a conversation with the staff and that they are going to talk to the people that administer the fund. Can the Minister then make a commitment to get back to us and provide an explanation as to why the surplus has been growing over time? Is it there are not enough applications? Is it that there maybe hasn't been enough promotion? Can the Minister make a commitment to get back to standing committee with the reasons why the surplus is growing and what the plan is going forward to make sure that the money is disbursed? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Sebert.

As I mentioned or has been mentioned, we are willing to enter into discussions with the committee. To my mind, the surplus has been growing simply because there are fewer applications or the applications are not eating up the cumulated surplus over the years, which I see has grown over the years. Again, yes, we certainly would get back to this committee with respect to our committee discussions with the committee that, after all, I appoint. I don't think it is necessary to go to them and say, "You must spend this money," but there probably are projects out there that are worthy of consideration. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I am asking for a simple commitment here. I would like to know whether the Minister is committed to get back to standing committee with (a) the reasons why the surplus is growing, and (b) what the department is going to do to try to get more money out the door to help victims of crime. Can the Minister make that commitment? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Sebert.

Yes.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. I see no further questions. Committee, I will call the page. Justice, services to the public, operations expenditure summary, $4,249,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Please return now to the departmental summary found on page 267. Justice, total department, $127,617,000. Does committee agree? Ms. Green.

Mr. Chair, I have questions on the revenue summary on page 268. Is this the appropriate time to ask?

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question for the Minister is: what is the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program? Could he please describe that initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Sebert.

I understand that funds the specialized courts, Wellness Court and DVTO. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Green.

I thank you, Mr. Chair. The Domestic Violence Treatment Option court is not the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program, unless there is a mistake in the main estimates. This shows a revenue of $100,000, starting in the next fiscal year. I am looking for an explanation of what this is.

I may have not given the best answer to the last question, so I am going to refer this to Ms. Bolstad. Perhaps she can give a more accurate and helpful answer to the question. Thank you.