Cramped courthouse shocks Quebec justice minister

Marc Bellemare, Quebec’s justice minister, says he was disturbed this week by the sight of judges, lawyers, jury members, witnesses and even the accused being forced to mingle in the entrance and waiting room of Kuujjuaq’s cramped and aging courthouse.

Bellemare, who is the province’s first justice minister to visit Nunavik, said he is determined to change conditions to ensure that confidentiality is preserved.

“As soon I as get back to Quebec, I will work to find solutions to improve the way offices and space are laid out in the courthouse,” he said in an interview from Kuujjuaq. The court is in the basement of what used to be a nursing station.

“We want to make sure confidentiality is respected and that victims are not in the same space as the accused while they wait. That’s unacceptable,” Bellemare said.

“We evaluated various possibilities – when you’re here it’s easier. I even called the deputy minister who is responsible for courthouses to discuss what could be done.

Bellemare was the latest of several high-profile Quebec ministers to swing through Nunavik since the Liberals came to power in the province last spring, dispensing money and learning what Nunavik needs.

“As minister of justice, I want to know how it works here, how the court works, the difficulties, the problems of access,” Bellemare said. “Of course, I can’t learn or see everything in a few days.”

But the minister’s brief, personal look at Nunavik’s justice system means the region can now look forward to more staff and better infrastructure.

In Kuujjuaq, Bellemare announced that Quebec would renew its support for the six justice committees in Nunavik, a program that receives $225,000 from Quebec every two years. Bellemare also promised to seek funding for two additional justice committees.

These committees are supposed to take the pressure off the over-burdened travelling court system by providing mediation, alternative measures programs and recommendations on sentencing in some cases.

Bellemare also brought along a cheque for $70,000 to the Kativik Regional Government – the first installment of a $260,000 commitment from Quebec to open a victim’s support office in Kuujjuaq.

“We will open an office for the CAVAC, a Centre aide aux victimes d’actes criminels. In Inuttitut that means a depression, but it’s a centre that helps victims,” Bellemare explained. “They are accompanied to court and receive support and protection. We will open up a special office in the courthouse for the person who will work at CAVAC.”

Adequate staffing is also an issue that needs attention, Bellemare learned as he met lawyers and a judge from the travelling court.

“It’s certain that they have needs, particularly with respect to legal aid. For the past seven years there has been a full-time legal aid lawyer in Kuujjuaq, but there could also be one on the Hudson Bay coast, and the crown prosecutor has too much work and needs an assistant,” Bellemare said.

While in Kuujjuaq, Bellemare made time to go out on the land with a dog team.

Bellemare also visited with high school students at Jaanimmarik School where he gave them a crash course on the judicial system.

“I really enjoyed this encounter. It’s because I have five children, and for young people today, it’s very hard for them to decide what they want to do in life.”