Jack Danylchuk
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 15/05) - Limits have been imposed on the number of people who can be in Yellowknife's four courtrooms at any one time.

The Yellowknife Courthouse opened in 1978, but only now have occupancy limits been calculated and posted for the court rooms.

"This is the first time it has ever been done," according to Bruce Stebbing, assistant to acting territorial fire marshall Steve Moss.

A recent call from court administrator Anne Mould prompted the step that was initially limited to Yellowknife, where the territorial government plans to build a new $40 million courthouse by 2010.

Judges are reviewing a proposal for the new courthouse, which calls for more space and greater security. The review is expected to be complete before the end of July.

"I don't know what the issue was," said Stebbing, "but all public spaces have to comply with the building code. Maybe security and emergency exits are more of a concern."

Bruce McKay, director of court services, said Mould was acting on the instructions of Territorial Court Chief Judge Brian Bruser when she asked for the occupancy survey.

Judge Bruser, through McKay, declined a request for an interview and McKay was unable to say what prompted the request for the survey.

"It was a good thing that needed to be done," said McKay.

Because of media inquiries, McKay said the survey of courtroom capacity will be extended to include courthouses in Fort Smith, Hay River and Inuvik.

Stebbing said Section 3116 of the building code allows 0.75 square metre per person in public rooms with fixed seating, compared to the 1.2 square metre limit required for bar patrons.

The number and size of doors are also considered in arriving at room capacity, Stebbing said. None of the court rooms in Yellowknife has an emergency exit. Court room one has double doors and a capacity for 91 persons, including judge, jury, court workers, lawyers, the accused,witnesses and spectators. The building code formula sets the capacity of the justice of the peace court at 22 persons. Two other court rooms are limited to 19 and 31 persons.