This is page numbers 5517 - 5566 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 know.

Topics

Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act
Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 60 will be referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

---Carried

Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: Northwest Territories Supported Living Review Final Report; Department of Health and Social Services Response to Supported Living Review Recommendations; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1311-19(2): Speech Language Pathology Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, 61, and 66, Committee Report 40-19(2), Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), Tabled Document 694-19(2), and Tabled Document 813-19(2), with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 1st, 2023

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 813-19(2), 2023-2024 Main Estimates, with Department of Justice. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We'll take a short recess and resume with Department of Justice.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, I'll call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 813-19(2), Main Estimates 2023-2024. We will now consider the Department of Justice. Does the Minister of Justice have any opening remarks?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present the Department of Justice's main estimates for the fiscal year 2023-2024. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $8.5 million or 6.2 per cent over the 2022-2023 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of the proposed main estimates include:

  • Forced Growth funding totaling $6.2 million of which $56,000 is increased funding available to essential partners impacted by rising inflation. The remaining $6.1 million is additional funding for the Territorial Police Services Agreement of which:
  • $611,000 is for additional RCMP members to better serve NWT communities with two additional constable positions in Behchoko and one additional constable position in Fort Providence;
  • $239,000 for the increased housing and capital infrastructure needs; and
  • $5.3 million for the ongoing impact of the RCMP Collective Agreement.

• Other adjustments totaling $3.3 million of which $2.9 million is for multiple federal cost sharing agreements being extended or introduced, including:

  • Enhancing Victim Services Agreement;
  • Access to Justice Agreement;
  • Canadian Family Justice Fund Agreement; and
  • The Indigenous Justice Program Agreement.

• In addition to the cost sharing agreements, there is also an additional $273,000 to establish 18 indeterminate relief coroners throughout the territory and one additional coroner in the North Slave Region; and

• Sunsets of $ 1.1 million.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and support the vision of budget 2023, by working to keep our residents and communities safe while supporting vulnerable populations. That concludes my opening remarks.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I do.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. With me, I have deputy minister of the Department of Justice, Charlene Doolittle. As well as James Bancroft, the director of corporate services. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with community justice starting on page 299, with information items on page 300 to 301. Are there any questions? Member for Yellowknife North.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm looking at page 299. I'm looking at the community justice funding line. I see in last fiscal it was about $5 million and now it's about $3.3 million. Can someone just explain to me -- it appears it got some one-time funding last fiscal and now we don't have it, but what's going on there? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Minister of Justice.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I'd like to direct that to Mr. Bancroft.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Bancroft.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Bancroft

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that increase is to do with two federal agreements coming online, one being the Enhancing Victims Services Agreement of $1.3 million, and the Indigenous justice program. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Yeah, thank you. I see that the victim services line item is increases. So perhaps I'm just going to assume this money moving around due to federal agreements. I guess I just -- I think community justice is not running as well as we all would like it to. I know that fine options is not even always available in Yellowknife let alone in every community. Diversion is, you know, really dependent on when you got a community justice committee up and running. I know we've struggled to staff many of our community justice committees.

And I know that they really struggle to run the level of programming that alternative measures is doing elsewhere. Certainly none of them would be capable of doing multiple week kind of on the land programming or really doing much more than holding a meeting and kind of getting a little bit of a diversion plan. You know, I have lots of thoughts on this. I guess my thought is that we probably need some more coordination. There probably needs to be some territory-wide staff who could fly around and work with all the community justice committees. We probably need some new programming money for healing circles, etcetera, but I'll wrap that all into a question. And I'm just wondering if there's any sort of review going on in regards to how we deliver community justice? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Justice.