Louis Sebert

Mr. Chair, I understand that ITI was not able to keep that money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, just some history on the clinic up there: At one point, 10 or 15 years ago, there was resident lawyers in private practice, the Federal Crown Attorney's Office was located there, and there was a resident judge, and there was a legal aid clinic with, I think, two or three lawyers. Things changed over time. There's no longer a resident judge. The federal Crown Attorney's Office closed, I think, five or six years ago, and we were left with the legal aid clinic, but we were only providing family law services.

Now, those services will still be provided out of Yellowknife. So these changes...

Mr. Chair, the department is always alive to this concern. We certainly don't see that position as having any effect on access to justice. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t like to make commitments for other Ministers, SDLs would be handled by the Department of ITI and perhaps the question could be more appropriately addressed to that Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wonder if I could have you ask the deputy minister to respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I think we are aware of the complexity of this issue. Certainly the Member has raised an interesting and complicating point, which we are aware of. I think the best that I can say now is that we are aware of this issue and it may be that in the future we have to make changes in the training of people that are working in the Sheriff's office, and we may also need some legislation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I can do that, Mr. Chair. The reduction in position is a result of the planned changes of the situation with respect the Legal Aid Clinic in Inuvik. One of the positions that will be removed to Yellowknife, and I think the person involved is already contemplating that move or has made that move, is the lawyer's position. The lawyer's assistant apparently has already found other employment in the Inuvik region. So this is a significant change in the Delta Legal Aid Clinic. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, Mr. Chair, I understand that one of the positions of document examiner has been eliminated. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize educator Jane Dragon of Fort Smith. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, he doesn't serve at the pleasure of the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.