Courthouse Security (December 7)
Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The wheels of justice have slowed in some Edmonton courtrooms because this government has failed to provide the necessary security.
Provincial sheriffs are responsible for security details. My first question is to the Solicitor General. How can this happen when over $33 million is budgeted for court security and prison transfer?
Mr. Denis: Mr. Speaker, I would first refute this member’s claim that this ministry has in any way failed to provide court security. There are four levels of court security. The final level of court security is only available in high-profile cases. Do you want a sheriff in every courtroom, for even a small-claims case? What about the taxpayers’ interests?
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. Again to the same minister: can the minister provide a breakdown of this $33 million budget? What is spent on court security, because court security is lax, and what is spent on prison transfer?
Mr. Denis: Once again, I refute this member’s claim that court security is lax. There are four levels of security. That includes the perimeter security, the inside security, and the roaming security. On top of that, every courtroom has a panic button, where one of the roaming sheriffs can actually come in if there is an actual need. We do not need – there you go, Mr. Speaker. You have one yourself. I’ll take my seat.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. MacDonald: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I think I have pushed the hon. member’s panic button on this issue.
Now, given that last year the sheriff and security operations branch had a surplus – listen carefully – of $1.5 million in their budget and that this year that budget was increased by an additional $1.5 million, why are Alberta justices in Edmonton so concerned about their security and the security of the courtroom that they administer over? They’re not wimps.
The Speaker: The hon. minister, please.
Mr. Denis: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I agree with this member that the justices are not wimps, but I again disagree that security is, in fact, lax. I’ve outlined exactly where security is in the courtroom.
If anybody in this House has hit their panic button, it’s the Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar because he’s not running again.
Merry Christmas.
Alberta Hansard, December 7, 2011