Justice Committee on Oct. 18th, 2006

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

In the draft budget, $955,000 was earmarked as support for a legal aid pilot project. Why doesn't that show up in the 2006-2007 main estimates? That's my first question.

As for my second—and I hope you will be able to answer it—I would like to know whether your department has contemplated the increased cost of legal aid associated with the enforcement of Bills C-9, C-10 and C-27, which we are going to be considering in the next few days. Have you looked into that? I look forward to your answers.

[Barbara Merriam]

I'd like to answer the first question.

It is the same situation. The minister will be requesting, through supplementary estimates, the same amount of money again for this year as we had for pilot projects last year.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Is there any further response to Mr. Lemay's question?

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

What about the second question?

[Donald Piragoff]

With respect to new pressures resulting from bills before Parliament, the government has been evaluating the pressures, both in terms of federal government costs such as prison costs--Public Security is looking at them--and also in terms of identifying any increases in legal aid costs through discussion with the provinces. That would be part of the negotiations in the new round.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I just want some clarification, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry, but it is very important.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Lemay, your time is up.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

He didn't give me an answer. He's a good politician.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Clarify your point then, Mr. Lemay, quickly.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

He didn't give me an answer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Put your point forward quickly.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I wanted to know whether you had had an assessment done of the legal aid costs associated with the enforcement of Bills C-9, C-10 and C-27.

[Donald Piragoff]

We have made assessments of the costing of the various bills that the government has put forward to Parliament for adoption. That costing includes things like police costs, prison costs, and increased prosecution costs. It also includes increased legal aid costs.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Comartin is next.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Piragoff, I didn't catch the four new drug courts. You went too quickly when you were doing that.

[Donald Piragoff]

Do you mean the locations?

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Yes.

[Donald Piragoff]

They are Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, and Ottawa.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

There is some local bias here. Windsor had put in for one of those and was quite upset about the criteria, since in effect they were already operating one and a number of these other communities, I understand, were not.

Who made the determination, and what criteria were used to determine which communities would get the next one?

[Barbara Merriam]

As I mentioned earlier, a review committee was established to review all the proposals and to make recommendations on which ones could be funded.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Are there criteria? I assume they had criteria.

[Barbara Merriam]

Yes, they did have criteria.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Is that public information?

[Barbara Merriam]

I'm sure I could provide the criteria to the committee.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Are there any plans for expanding the number of courts?