Justice
May 19, 2009The following statement was
issued by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Justice and Attorney
General. It was also read in the House of Assembly:
Provincial Government Supports Court
Services in Newfoundland and Labrador
I rise today to provide information about Budget 2009
initiatives which support the efficient operations of both Provincial
Court and Supreme Court in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Provincial Court is a court of record and thus it must
ensure that documents are maintained and accessible as they could be
required for future proceedings. To maintain the integrity of court
records we have funded a new Manager of Information Management position.
As well, management of financial information of the court is essential
to operations so we have funded a new Manager of Accounting position.
Both of these positions are important to the functioning of our court
system and we are pleased to fund them in Budget 2009.
We also recognize that the Aboriginal people of our
province often face language barriers during court proceedings. Prior to
this year, Provincial Court in Happy Valley-Goose Bay had a full-time
Innu court clerk and part-time Inuit court clerk, both of whom provide
counter services in Aboriginal languages.. As a result of Budget 2009
both positions will be full-time. This action will ensure both
Aboriginal groups receive court services in the appropriate language.
The complexity and number of new estates transactions
has increased in recent years. In order to ensure the proper functioning
of the Estates Office of Supreme Court we have created the position of
Assistant Estates Administrator. This position will support the
day-to-day operations of the office.
It is incumbent upon government to provide appropriate
court facilities within our province. This year we are providing
$666,000 for pre-planning of new court facilities for St. John�s and $7
million to complete the Corner Brook Courthouse. As well, we will
provide an additional Deputy Sheriff for court security in Corner Brook.
Our courts are vitally important entities of the
justice system and these are wise investments into that system. Our
government has responded to the needs of both Provincial Court and
Supreme Court to ensure the proper administration of justice for all
those involved in the court system.
2008 05 19 1:40 p.m.