Sorry. Ms. Bolstad.

Thank you, Ms. Bolstad. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess some of this goes back to in previous business plans when we were doing them in that way. We actually had some performance indicators, some way of judging how resourcing levels affected the level of service. We don't have that for this particular service and entity. At some point, we're going to have to look at how the engaging, monitoring, and access to services and turnaround service standards, times, whatever, is measured in resourcing is appropriately allocated. I will take the Minister's word at it for now. The wait times have come down. They probably still need to come down further. That's all I've got. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We certainly can provide the metrics in terms of the reduction in wait times. There have been reductions. I'm looking back to 2017-2018, and it's been by 22 percent the one year and then to 29 percent after that. The wait times there are only one metric. That is influenced by the fact that there are now two part-time rental officers hearing that. That changes the wait times, but it doesn't necessarily change some of the other metrics of the service, wait times to a decision. There are other ways of measuring the effectiveness of this public service, and I want to be cognizant that it is also a judicial service, and sometimes measuring a metric can be a bit challenging on a judicial service. I do take the point that, when representing this here and relying on public resources, we want to make sure we are showing as many metrics as we can about the service people are receiving. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to send that one over to the director of Finance, too, please.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Bolstad.

Thank you, Ms. Bolstad. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for that response. Just so I don't get ahead of myself, am I allowed to speak to the page ahead? Can I do this? No. I just want to make sure. Other than that, that's the only number that I saw that was out, so I have nothing further.

Thank you, Member. Are there any further questions to the services to the public up to page 287? Seeing none, turn to page 286. Justice, services to the public, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $4,497,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will now turn to the information items beginning on 288. We have Justice, Victims Assistance Fund; and on 289, Justice, proceeds of crime fund; 290 and 291, we have Justice, work performed on behalf of others, information items. Do we have any comments or questions on these items? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. On the Victims Assistance Fund, the accumulated surplus is growing. It's growing by $100,000 since 2018-2019. I am just wondering if I can get a bit of an explanation there. I would have thought that we could find ways to better assist victims of crime by getting the money out. Can I get an explanation of the increase in surplus there? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can reassure the Member I think in this case that, while I don't necessarily know all the reasons why the past iteration of the committee might have been hesitant or in terms of what they're funding, there are two things that are happening that I think are positive. The biggest one is that the committee members have now met in person. They met in person; November 25, 2019, was the first time they met in person in, I'm told, quite a long time. I had the opportunity to meet with them. They sat down. They were really brainstorming around where they want the committee to go. As I understand it, that was an opportunity that has not existed for some time and should, hopefully, therefore, support that committee to be working better and more proactively as a group. That's a big part of it.

Another part is simply ensuring that the organizations that would be applying to this, that they would know again, similarly, that they have the ability and the opportunity to apply. I am conscious that it tends to be the status of women, Native Women's Association, who are more than deserving, but there are likely other organizations out there. The fact of bringing some attention to the opportunity will also hopefully help with getting that money out the door. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Thanks for that explanation. Is there like a cap or set by policy, by regulation, by legislation, on how much can actually stay in the fund? Are there any guidelines on disbursement percentages or something? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe there are. I don't know them offhand. If I may, Madam Chair, if you could check with the deputy minister and see if she has that information available to her? If not, Madam Chair, then, we'll certainly commit to getting it to the Member.