Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 24/01) - The Yellowknife courthouse is spending money to save money.

About $109,000 worth of the latest video-conferencing equipment has been set up in the courthouse thanks to financial support from Justice Canada.

The reason is to save on transportation and accommodation costs for people required to testify during hearings.

"A bail hearing was held with everybody here," explained director of courtroom services Bruce McKay.

He described a hearing in which an incarcerated individual from Saskatoon wanted to be released on bail pending an appeal.

"The gentleman was taken to SaskTel and appeared on the screen to be present during his bail hearing," McKay added.

Justice Canada provided funding for three sets of video machines that can now network with similar systems across the country.

So far, a hearing room is equipped with a monitor and camera and McKay said it is hoped video-conferencing equipment will be set up in other courtrooms as well.

One courtroom is set up for jury trials and McKay said the technology would be handy for expert witnesses to testify. It would substantially cut down on the expenses of flying them North putting them up in hotels, when they are often bound by strict time frames.

"Another use would be in the territory if for some reason a bail hearing can not be held locally," he said.

"We hope to save a lot of money."

Right now remote Northern communities do not have their own video-conferencing equipment set up.