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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was work.
Historical Information David Ramsay is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2015, as MLA for Kam Lake

Lost his last election, in 2019, with 49% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you. They’re usually working off their fines anyway. So now they’d be having the ability to work off the surcharge as well. So we don’t anticipate any further workload. Thank you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, it would be more beneficial if we had folks working off their surcharges as opposed to getting nothing. That’s why it’s the way it is. Thank you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we can do that and we will do that. Thank you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam. I’ll go to Ms. Kemeys-Jones for a more detailed response to the second part of Mr. Dolynny’s question, but I just wanted to say that we’re not out to try to fool the public or anything with the bill. The question about where the surcharges collected go, I can list off a few things: training to sensitize and inform community resource workers about the needs and circumstances of victims of crime; direct services that assist victims through crisis response personal support; follow-up assistance information and referrals; public awareness on the rights and responsibilities of victims; available services; the criminal justice system and its procedures or any other issues related to victims of crime; research into the needs and concerns of victims; distribution of victims’ service information; and promotion of services for victims so that the surcharges that we do collect go to help victims of crime. Thank you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right is Ms. Shirley Kemeys-Jones, assistant deputy minister, Office of the Solicitor General; and to my left, Cherie Jarock

, legislative counsel, Department of Justice.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to be here today to talk to you about Bill 63, An Act to Amend the Victims of Crime Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its review of the bill.

In 2013 the federal government gave assent to Bill C-37, Increasing Offenders’ Accountability for Victims Act. As a result of those amendments, offenders are now allowed to use fine option programs to work off surcharges. In response, Bill 63 would amend the territorial Victims of Crime Act to allow offenders to resolve their surcharges by means of the NWT Fine Option Program.

These changes are especially important given that Bill C-37 doubled the existing federal surcharge and removed judicial discretion in applying the surcharge for each federal conviction an offender receives. The cumulative total owed could end up being quite significant in some cases, and many offenders have very little money. Without the ability to utilize the Fine Option Program, cumulative surcharges could be a burden.

Bill 63 will also allow the territorial victim surcharge amount or the calculation method for each offence to be set out in the Victims of Crime Regulations, allowing amounts to be updated as necessary in the future, after appropriate consultation prior to implementing any increase or decrease. This bill will also amend the Fine Option Act to permit an offender to use the Fine Option Program to discharge all or any part of the victim of crime surcharge.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have regarding the bill. Thank you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. Most of the time the coroner would be invited into the premises. In the case that they’re not, that’s something that is included in the bill and can be addressed. I’m going to go to Mr. Aitken for some further detail on that.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank the Member and thank the committee again for their input into the bill. We certainly listened intently to the questions that came up at the committee review and appreciate the Member’s input into the bill you see before you.

Committee Motion 143-17(5): Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act – Amendment To Subclauses 1(2) And (3), Carried October 6th, 2015

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right is Mr. Mark Aitken, assistant deputy minister, Office of the Attorney General. To my left is Mr. Ken Chutskoff, legislative counsel, Department of Justice.