Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is to the Minister in regard to legal services, about the opportunity to branch it out to the South Slave. I know that, in 2014, they looked at this. However, in 2014, we had lawyers there. Presently, in Hay River, we see one lawyer retiring and another lawyer downsizing his practice. Can the Minister explain why they wouldn't be looking at this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Thank you. I think that, in 2014, there were concerns expressed about disruption of the private practitioners south of the lake. The Member is quite correct; there are fewer practising lawyers south of the lake now than there were then. There is nobody who is actively practising in Fort Smith, and the situation also in Hay River is in transition. I think we can put it that way.

This was looked at before, as I understand it, in 2014, and apart from issues of disruption, there were concerns about conflicts. It seems to me that it is worth examining this again. I don't know whether we should be putting a new clinic in somewhere outside Yellowknife, but we may need more clinics to avoid conflict issues. Certainly, I am open to considering the idea of an additional clinic or, perhaps, more legal aid lawyers, because they all do seem to be busy.

Again, in the past, there was concern expressed about disruption of the legal profession south of the lake. Those concerns may not be as relevant today as they were then, and we haven't done any real planning about this, but certainly I am open to discussion and consideration of this. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the Minister's answer. I understand that, in 2014, we had a thriving law practice in Hay River, and then we had a lawyer in Fort Smith at that time, who has now gone on to a different career. Again, though, it is about the ability to provide legal services to the residents of the South Slave, which encompasses a lot of the communities. Can the Minister look at a cost analysis of this and get back to committee on this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that we could do some preliminary investigation about this with respect to costs and get back to committee. I am willing to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the Minister doing that. With part of that cost analysis, could he look at the need, the demand of these positions, and how many people need the services? Can that be part of the study, as well? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, certainly. That would be a part of any analysis, because we would have to determine what the need is, which we can do. I think we could look at numbers, dockets, and so on. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As part of that cost analysis, can the department, when they look at this, see if there is the feasibility of finding office space for the clinic to be there as part of the investigation? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, of course. Initially, we would have to determine whether there was a need, and whether it made sense, and whether it would be more efficient. Ultimately, I suppose, part of any cost analysis would be rent costs. I don't think we are at that stage yet of looking at what the cost of rent would be, and I don't know whether that would be part of our initial analysis, but at some point, if we did move ahead, obviously the cost of rent would have to be looked at. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the Minister's apprehension to this, but, again, if we are really going to look at the feasibility of this, that has to be part of the process. So, again, I am asking the Minister and the department if they are willing to add this to part of the evaluation of it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, I think it would be reasonable to look at ballpark costs, rent costs, as part of this analysis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that, and I look forward to seeing that information as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Any further questions, committee? Seeing none, I will call the page. Legal aid services, operations expenditure summary, $6,571,000. Does committee agree?