R.J. Simpson

Thank you. So we have the chief coroner. We have a deputy coroner. And then we have 18 regional coroners. Thank you.

Thank you. So right now there are programs in Inuvik, Behchoko, Sambaa K'e, Fort Simpson, and Fort Providence. The programs the contribution agreements for the programs in Sambaa K'e and Fort Providence expire at the end of this fiscal year, and the other ones expire in 2024. There is not a change to this budget but there's no decrease to the budget either, don't intend to roll this back at all. Thank you.

Thank you. So we have an additional position that is the investigations and standards office. So the director of investigations and standards I suppose, and that is a position that was created under the act. It's my understanding that although there was a collaborative effort, and Justice worked with the Regular Members to make improvements and to create new processes in the bill, there was no additional money added at that time. So we've been doing what we can internally, but we do have the one new position, and I believe the budget for that was $243,000. Thank you.

Thank you. So I have met with the commanding officer on this as well as other detachment commanders across the territory. And I know that they are focusing on it. They are seeing these increases. And this is what they do, they enforce the law. And when it comes to drugs, they see the negative impacts; they know that where we are now is in a better position than where we could be in the future and they're doing their best to try and stop us from getting to that. So there has been an increased focus. As well I've been working with the department to try and figure out what we can do on our side...

Thank you. And so that would determinations that the courts are making for the most part. But I'm comfortable right now, that being said with this rapid expansion of these types of appearances. Who knows what we'll see in the near future. You get two lawyers in a room and you get three different opinions on what's legal so it's hard to say. Thank you.

So if the Member's talking about public housing, then I would reserve that question for the housing corporation because the rental office I don't think they deal with those types of issues. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So like I said, we are always looking for more federal funds and we're continuing to do that. If we had a bigger budget, we could create those positions but the fact is that we have the budget we have and we have to work within it. And we have been able to do that and still expand the program. So until we can secure some significant federal funds, we'll continue to work in that manner. Thank you.

Thank you. So as of today, there are 82 adults and three youth who are incarcerated. There are at NSCC, there are 63 males, SMCC we have five, and at FSCC we have 12. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll hand it to Mr. Bancroft.

Thank you. And during COVID, the Member's correct, we did utilize technology much more often. We've provided more resources to the courts to help them manage this technology because the judges and court workers aren't necessarily tech people themselves. There have been videoconferencing systems installed in the RCMP detachments across the territory so that people can appear virtually there. Perhaps I can hand it to the deputy minister for some more discussion about the things that have happened. Thank you.