EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Of course, all of our officials in all of the departments across the government where we got all the programs and PYs from, I would like to thank all of our employees out there. They’re kind of worried that their jobs are at stake and where they will end up and all that sort of thing.
I hear a lot of good comments from people across Nunavut in all the communities about this new department.
I look forward to the new department starting April 1 and going out there to serve all the families in the communities and improving life in the communities.  I thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last two years to get to this point.
Thank you for your good questions today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As the new department is in operation, we would like to say that we want it to be successful.
At this time, I will just continue on to the Department of Justice.
I would like to ask Minister Shewchuk to go to the witness table to make his opening remarks. Minister Shewchuk.
Bill 49 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014 – Justice – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Good day, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure to be before you and your committee this afternoon.
I am pleased to appear before the committee to present the Department of Justice’s main estimates for operations and maintenance for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
I will introduce my witnesses when they are with me here today, Mr. Chairman.
A total amount of $100,439,000 is being allocated for the operations of the Department of Justice in the coming fiscal year. This represents an $8,354,000 increase from the previous fiscal year. This increase is attributed to additional funds required by the RCMP to cover guard costs at the Iqaluit detachment, pay increases, and additional contractual obligations as a result of the new 20-year contract between the Department of Justice and Public Safety Canada for RCMP policing services.
In addition, more funding is required for the contribution agreement between the Department of Justice and the Legal Services Board to meet the growing demand for legal services for all Nunavummiut. The new collective agreement with the Nunavut Employees Union also requires the Department of Justice to have additional funding to cover those pay increases.
A review of our business plan shows that in addition to the continued provision of critical services, the department has many goals for the coming year.
The RCMP will continue to seek out Inuit recruits to the RCMP who are able to speak Inuktitut to better provide policing services in our communities.
Our Court Services Division is currently working on the training and equipping of Nunavut sheriffs to ensure Nunavutmiut are safe when they attend the court, and our Community Justice Division is working hard on a number of crime reduction initiatives.
The new Rankin Inlet Healing Facility opened its doors earlier this year. The facility will help ease some of the overcrowding at the Baffin Correctional Centre and provide programming to inmates to help them keep out of custody and in their communities.
Corrections is also continuing to find solutions to ease the pressure on the Baffin Correctional Centre.
The department believes that these efforts and objectives set out in the business plan will improve [access] to justice and public safety for all Nunavutmiut.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening comments. I am pleased to answer any questions from you or your committee members.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
On my right, I have the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Norman Tarnow, and on my left, I have Christine Bens, Director of Corporate Services for Justice.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness on its review of the proposed 2013-14 main estimates and 2013-16 business plan of the Department of Justice.
The standing committee notes that the department’s organizational structure remains unchanged from 2012-13.
Its proposed 2013-14 operations and maintenance budget of $100,439,000 has increased by approximately 9.1 percent since the introduction of the department’s 2012-13 main estimates.
The standing committee also notes that the total number of positions in the department has increased from 330.0 PYs in 2012-13 to 336.0 PYs in 2013-14.
The government’s June 2012 quarterly employment report indicated that approximately 30 percent of the department’s positions were vacant at that time.
These include annual reports under the Family Abuse Intervention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Human Rights Act.
The standing committee looks forward to such annual reports being tabled in a more timely manner.
The department’s proposed 2013-14 main estimates indicate that the amount of annual funding provided to the Legal Services Board will increase from $8,307,000 in 2012-13 to $10,064,000 in 2013-14.
This is an increase of approximately 21 percent.
Information provided to the standing committee by the minister indicates that this increase is primarily due to such initiatives as the hiring of four additional criminal lawyers and an increase in the budget for the Court Worker Program.
The standing committee notes the minister’s efforts to work with his provincial and territorial counterparts to lobby the federal government to fund a greater proportion of the costs of criminal and civil legal aid and notes the contents of the January 26, 2012 and November 6, 2012 communiqués issued by federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of justice concerning this issue.
The standing committee also notes that the department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that work has been ongoing to “Investigate independent society status for LSB” and to “Conduct a comprehensive structural/operational review” of its operations.
The standing committee also notes that the department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that the Legal Services Board is developing a new Criminal Financial Eligibility Policy and a new Civil Financial Eligibility Policy.
Members urge the minister to formally table in the Legislative Assembly any new policies approved by the Legal Services Board.
Mr. Chairman, the proposed 2013-14 budget for the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal is $804,000.
Its budget for 2012-13 was $795,000.
On June 7, 2012, the Minister of Justice tabled a report in the Legislative Assembly titled “Strengthening the Nunavut Human Rights System.”
The report presented 18 formal recommendations concerning the operations of the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal and the Human Rights Act itself.
The department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that the “Recommendations of the review are being studied at this time.”
The standing committee encourages the minister to provide regular updates to the Legislative Assembly on the status of this initiative.
Mr. Chairman, it is a tragic fact that Nunavut suffers from a high rate of violent crime.
A recent report from Statistics Canada titled “Criminal Victimization in the Territories” illustrates the extent to which residents of the north are victimized by crime.
The Government of Nunavut’s Tamapta Action Plan states that “During this mandate, the Government of Nunavut will develop a comprehensive Crime Prevention Strategy based on Inuit societal values and involving Nunavummiut in efforts to reduce the need for intervention by the justice system.”
However, the extent to which progress has been achieved by the government in developing this strategy remains unclear and the standing committee encourages the minister to provide a detailed update in the Legislative Assembly on the status of this initiative.
The standing committee also notes the importance of cooperation between partners, including the Department of Justice, in the development of the government’s Ilagiitsiarniq Family Violence Prevention Strategy.
On March 9, 2011, the 2010-11 shared directional statement between the Department of Justice and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s “V” Division was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The standing committee urges the minister to table in the Legislative Assembly on an annual basis the shared directional statement with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s “V” Division.
The standing committee notes that the department’s budget for the government’s policing services contract with Public Safety Canada for the provision of RCMP policing services in the territory is increasing from $29,606,000 in 2012-13 to $34,185,000 in 2013-14.
Information provided to the standing committee by the minister indicates that this increase is primarily due to such factors as the GN’s obligations with respect to RCMP detachment [properties].
The standing committee notes that a national Summit on the Economics of Policing was held in January of this year.
Mr. Chairman, members have raised the ongoing issue of communication difficulties between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the public whom it serves.
Members note that section 3 of the Inuit Language Protection Act provides that organizations shall communicate with the public in the Inuit language when delivering essential services such as “emergency, rescue or similarly urgent services.”
The standing committee notes that one of the department’s priorities for 2013-14 is to “Continue efforts to increase capacity to communicate in the Inuit language within the RCMP in ‘V’ Division...”
The standing committee also continues to encourage the minister to review the idea of introducing civil forfeiture legislation to address the issue of assets acquired through the proceeds of crime.
Mr. Chairman, one of the department’s priorities in its 2010-11 business plan was to “Develop options for a Healthy Relationships Court in Nunavut, incorporating advice and consultations with the Clyde River Family Justice Centre and Nunavut Community Justice Committees generally.”
However, the department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that “A request for funding from the Federal Government was denied.
A healthy relationships proposal is being considered but implementation will require funding.”
Members look forward to ongoing updates on this initiative, including clarification concerning such matters as the extent to which its decisions will have the force of law.
Last year, the standing committee again noted with concern that the department’s proposed 2011-14 business plan indicated that “no additional resources have been identified by either Corrections or Community Justice towards the reintegration of offenders after incarceration.”
The standing committee recognizes that effective programs for inmates and persons on probation are an essential element of reducing the rate at which reoffending occurs.
The standing committee notes that the government’s official announcement concerning the recent opening of the new correctional healing centre in Rankin Inlet indicated that “inmates will participate in community-based programs as part of their rehabilitation plans.”
The standing committee also notes that two of the department’s priorities for 2013-14 are to “Evaluate programs and operation of the correctional Rankin Inlet Healing Facility following the first year” and to “Continue developing a plan for a medium to long-term solution to increase capacity for inmates in Nunavut, including planning to repatriate all Nunavut inmates housed outside of Nunavut.”
Information provided to the standing committee by the minister indicates that the Government of Nunavut’s current memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the placement of inmates in NWT correctional facilities will expire on March 31, 2014.
There is an option for automatic renewal of the MOU for an additional three years up to March 31, 2017.
Mr. Chairman, an ongoing concern for members has been the issue of probation services in Nunavut.
At its sitting of October 27, 2011, the Legislative Assembly was informed by the Minister of Justice that “there are over a thousand individuals on probation” in Nunavut.
The standing committee notes that although the department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that “Community Corrections has been working at establishing a ‘stand alone’ probation service for Nunavut.”
It also indicates that “The biggest challenge is in securing office space and housing in several targeted communities.”
In June of 2009, the Department of Justice issued a request for proposals for an evaluation of the implementation of the Family Abuse Intervention Act. A report was subsequently prepared by the Genesis Group and tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 10, 2011.
The department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that it is “currently working to develop a Family Abuse Intervention Act Policy as well as updating current procedures.”
The standing committee also notes that the department’s proposed 2013-16 business plan indicates that one of its priorities in 2013-14 is to assist community justice committees to “increase their ability to receive more cases diverted from the formal Criminal Justice system.”
The standing committee encourages the minister to provide additional detail concerning the specific initiatives that will be undertaken by the department to achieve this goal.
Mr. Chairman, the Minister of Justice made formal statements in the Legislative Assembly at its sittings of March 6, 2012 and October 31, 2012 concerning the issue of support for victims of crime.
In his statements, he indicated that the federal government had approved approximately $1.3 million in funding over five years to allow the Department of Justice to provide travel assistance to the families of victims of homicide and other serious crimes so that they can travel to court hearings.
The standing committee urges the minister to ensure that clear information concerning this support is made available to Nunavummiut.
The standing committee also urges the minister to report annually to the Legislative Assembly concerning the department’s actual expenditures under this program.
The standing committee also notes that the department’s 2010-11 and 2011-12 annual reports under the Victims of Crime Act indicate that approximately $160,000 was provided over two years for community-based projects and activities that provide services and assistance to victims of crime.
We will now open the floor for general comments. You can ask your questions during the page-by-page review.
I now open the floor for general comments. Mr. Curley.
I do want to make a comment on the administration of the Department of Justice in general. I appreciate the minister appearing before us today and his officials, deputy minister and finance representatives.
It’s always a pleasure to deal with a very important department that affects pretty much all Nunavutmiut, particularly those who are involved in law enforcement officials, law infractions, and so on.
In terms of my understanding, the Department of Justice pretty much functions like the Department of Justice in provinces and so on. If there are any exclusions that have not been developed in the Nunavut territory, maybe the minister can volunteer to explain what other functions of the federal services have not been devolved to Nunavut. I think it would help the committee to help the minister in fighting for certain areas that the feds may not have developed.
One area that I can definitely help the minister with is what I have read in The Globe and Mail yesterday or two days ago. My time really hasn’t kicked in yet after a 12-hour difference and a 30-hour travel the other day from Bangkok to Canada until we settled down in Ottawa.
So I read in the newspaper that we’re not very present in project management with respect to RCMP facilities. Now having transferred the criminal law services from the feds to the NWT or the Nunavut government, why would they continue to have a project management role for infrastructure of the federal buildings?
Now that you can administer criminal justice issues, why not transfer all that work, the infrastructure projects along with some funding to the Nunavut government so that there won’t be any major problems with projects like the RCMP headquarters, an $18 million project that is possibly in real danger of collapsing, in my view.
Above all that, The Globe and Mail indicated in previous other stories that there is an RCMP investigation going on.
That really doesn’t work well for the public, the RCMP occupying the building to be investigating the construction project management, whether or not there may have been illegal activity.
The story indicates that the new technology that they’re using was either maliciously or purposely damaged for reasons that we don’t know yet.
I think the minister must explain whether or not he is updated by the federal government on all these matters.
I think they are of interest to our public because they do have an impact on running the programs and RCMP services to Nunavutmiut.
So it’s sort of more like a foreign conspiracy theory that is going on out there that the Nunavut government should be well briefed by the federal government on exactly what’s happening with the RCMP facility.
If the minister is not aware of what’s going on, maybe he can tell this committee why he is not aware or not have been briefed by RCMP officials in Ottawa.
So that is my brief statement on the opening comments.
Even though it’s easy to say that we don’t have an official role in the infrastructure or project management of the RCMP or federal facilities, I think it’s still our business to put our nose in and say, “Why are these things allowed to happen?”
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley, for your general comments.
On page 2, as indicated by Minister Shewchuk, they would like to increase the number of Inuktitut-speaking people in the RCMP.
I think that most of the special constables in the communities all speak Inuktitut, but they were also very capable of building igloos, driving dog teams, and so on.
I am very pleased to hear that they will be hiring Inuktitut-speaking employees, especially in the smaller and larger communities.
I’m sure that some who can’t speak Inuktitut would like to make some announcements in the smaller communities and communicate with the local population.
I am sure they would like to talk with the people who commit crimes, but there is a communication gap between the personnel and the public.
They have to use interpreters or get someone on the phone who can speak Inuktitut.
It’s not only for the policing division.
They’re here to provide a service in all Nunavut communities. To protect and serve is their first and foremost mandate and responsibility.
There are the elders again who would like to see services provided in Inuktitut. I fully support the idea of hiring more Inuktitut-speaking personnel in both the larger and smaller communities, not only in the policing field, but also in all the aspects of legal services that are provided up here.
Thank you.  Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark.
Welcome to the Department of Justice, Minister Shewchuk, Mr. Tarnow, Ms. Bens, and other officials in the Gallery.
Along the lines of my colleagues, in the opening statements on page 2, paragraph 4, you mentioned continuing to seek out Inuit recruitment.
I am very glad to see in the opening comments that this was addressed as it will continue to seek out Inuit recruitment, which will bridge essential services to communities, alleviating potential misunderstandings, and ensure adequate due process.
All policing services and the department is quite aware that it must enhance in all areas, such as cultural sensitivity, the Canadian Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, just to ensure that the adequate processes are in place. It’s very encouraging to see that there is an action plan to always continue on bridging services.
I’m glad that we’re able to see you again in front of us.
Before I go to my question in regard to the justice department, first of all, I think we’re all proud that in Rankin Inlet, there is a new healing facility in operation.
We often speculate on how we can vacate the correctional centres.
When you’re a business owner, you always want more revenue to come in for them to be available. We have to look at it the other way because it’s too expensive. When there are too many inmates, the correctional service budget gets strained.
If we’re going to be looking for solutions and the criminals who are committing crime is increasing and the services of the RCMP are not increasing, we should try to ensure that we put an end to the high crime rate.
Right now, the Government of Nunavut is trying too hard to try to come up with some more funding instead of trying to think of preventative measures.
The Department of Justice has to ensure how they can reduce the funding to look after inmates. Currently, it seems they are more focused on providing more funding for the RCMP services. It seems the emphasis is on increasing the funding, not on crime prevention.
That seems kind of obvious.
I understand it is a complex matter. However, with the implementation of the new legislation related to family in crisis, the Family Abuse Intervention Act, once the system has become familiar with the legislation, it can alleviate some of the issues we face with Inuit because that was the purpose for them
Mr. Chairman, this other matter that I have been thinking about, I can’t recall the exact term, perhaps community justice committees or justices of the peace.
I can’t recall, but Inuit have to get started on this. Let me first comment on this matter.
Ever since Nunavut was agreed to, Inuit had to start by ownership of their lands, resources, and their territory.
Justice should be included in this ownership quest.
Since it causes problems for Inuit, we ought to be looking for solutions to this alienation.
When we look to outsiders for solutions, all we get are more pressing problems since they aren’t relevant. We, Inuit, must be in agreement. Since we still have many problems existing in Nunavut, we have to try to revise and resolve these problematic issues and that has to be at the forefront of our thinking.
When we get to the page-by-page review, I will obviously have some questions, but those are what I had questioned so the officials will be prepared when I raise them and the responses will be to the point.
We’re on page E-4. Justice. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $15,340,000.
The Hon. Minister Shewchuk, the Department of Justice, and I had a great exchange on November 1, 2012 in regard to the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal.
It is a privilege to follow up with some additional questions in regard to the directorate. As a process, I would like to ask. You tabled the 2009-2010 and 2010-11annual reports of the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal in the Legislative Assembly on October 30 of last year.
Has the tribunal submitted its 2011-12 annual report to your office and, if not, what reasons may there be for a tribunal delay in regard to its submission?
Yes, they have provided us information for that report and that will be tabled probably during the next sitting.
Last year on June 7, you tabled the report titled “Strengthening the Nunavut Human Rights System.”
The report made a number of recommendations concerning the Human Rights Tribunal in Nunavut and the Human Rights Act itself. Your department’s business plan indicates that “The recommendations of the review are being studied at this time.”
When will the government provide a formal response to the report and recommendations? Will you commit to tabling the response in the Legislative Assembly?
Again I thank the member for his question. As he well knows, we have had great discussion. We have talked about this in the House.
It is very true that there has been a detailed report with 18 recommendations about the Human Rights Tribunal and the structure of the tribunal.
First and foremost, the No. 1 most important priority is to have a human rights commission set up under the Human Rights Tribunal so that it operates properly.