Hay River (Nov 22/04) - It became official last week that Hay River will be hard hit by cuts from the Department of Justice. Hay River will lose 28 positions. Inuvik will lose six.

As part of a GNWT cost saving initiative, Dene K'onia Young Offenders Facility and a remand unit will close in Hay River. Meanwhile, court registries will close in Hay River and Inuvik, and the work amalgamated with the registry in Yellowknife.

The changes will take effect early in the next fiscal year beginning April 1.

Hay River court clerk Sheila Ryan-Hachey feels angry, personally devalued and a bit betrayed by the Court Registry closure.

"I believe service to justice and access to justice will be decreased," she said.

Mike Gagnier, a youth officer at Dene K'onia, said while the announcement wasn't a surprise, there was still anger and frustration.

"About the only thing we can do is fight politically and publicly," said Gagnier, who is confident the decision can be reversed. "But it would be a hell of a fight."

Justice Minister Charles Dent said the changes will save $2.6 million -- $1.5 million at Dene K'onia, $400,000 at the remand centre, and $700,000 at the court registries. The GNWT plans to cut an overall $20 million from next year's budget.

Dent said options will be discussed with affected workers.

"We are committed to working with those employees affected by the changes and have identified a number of vacant positions in the hope that as many employees as possible can stay with the GNWT," said Dent. With the introduction of the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act, the number of youth sentenced to open custody has decreased. Over the last year, the number of young offenders at Dene K'onia -- an open custody facility for boys -- has ranged from two to eight.

Dent admitted the cuts are contrary to the GNWT's goal of decentralization.

"I know it flies in the face of what government is trying to do," he said.

Kelvin Yee, the regional vice-president with the Union of Northern Workers, said workers are frustrated and angry after Nov. 16 meetings with department officials.

Yee said the cuts were only officially announced because they leaked out.

It is good the cuts did leak out because it gives the workers more time to rally opposition, he said.

"Now it does give us a fighting chance," he said.