David Ramsay

The Member is correct; it was April 1, 2012, where the new 20-year agreement was signed with the RCMP. We have, and will maintain, a good relationship with the RCMP. I know the Department of Public Works and Services is moving forward with a new way of maintaining RCMP assets here in the Northwest Territories, so we have a close relationship with the RCMP and it is getting closer. Of course, as Minister, I work very closely with the RCMP and the commanding officers here in the Northwest Territories, and I know they have done a lot of great work here in the communities in developing the...

That’s something we could take into consideration. There may be other avenues where we could get, perhaps if the Standing Committee on Social Programs wanted us to get some staff from the Department of Justice in to have a discussion about legal aid services in the Northwest Territories, that’s something that we could see happen, as well, and then Members could have that type of dialogue with our staff that are dealing with legal aid on a day-to-day basis here in the NWT.

I haven’t given this any thought. What the Member is suggesting would certainly change the role and the scope of the coroner’s office. That’s something that we can take away and perhaps, you know, if there is a suggestion coming from the Member or the standing committee, that’s something we can get them a response to. Thank you.

That is a good suggestion. Another opportunity may exist through on-line information and services provided to residents across the Northwest Territories on will and estate planning. I will certainly check with my officials at the Department of Justice to see what information is out there for folks. If we can look at providing more opportunities to have questions answered with regard to will and estate planning around the territory, that is in our interest to do that. I would certainly look forward to any further discussion I could have with the member and the Standing Committee on Social...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That question would possibly be best posed to the new Lands department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The turnaround time for court services here in the Northwest Territories is one of the best in the country. The issue the Member is raising on going from four weeks to six weeks, that’s the first that I’ve heard of that. If the Member has a specific occurrence or situation in one of his communities that he wants us to have a look at the amount of time, I mean, that’s something we can inquire as to the length of time that it’s taken and respond back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Are we departing from the way things have been going? Are we going through general comments and then I’m expected to answer all the questions at the end, or do you want me to answer questions one after the other?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I mentioned that earlier, that was a ballpark number. If you have 20 or 22 vacant positions, you could arrive at a number, but that’s not going to be the number you have to go with because it’s always changing and evolving. On an annual basis the vacancy rate at the Department of Justice is roughly 9 percent. We continue to fill positions to the best of our ability day in and day out, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We’re currently piloting that Community Safety Strategy in three communities in the Northwest Territories and we will be evaluating how that goes and looking to ensure that if it’s successful then getting it into as many other communities across the territory as we can. It’s still in its early stages but we hope to see it expand past the three that are being piloted.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a difficult situation when you are dealing with the adult population in our correctional facilities. We are not alone in that, the prevalence of FASD across the country. Other jurisdictions are in a similar situation as us in trying to determine the prevalence of FASD. We have a diagnostic team at Stanton Territorial Hospital but they deal with youth and it is very much intensive. You require the services of a psychologist, a specialized pediatrician and also other health care providers, so it is something that is not easily arrived at, but we do have that...