David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, the RCMP has a long and historic significance to the Northwest Territories and to the people of the Northwest Territories. We have moved forward and I’m glad the Member is asking me these questions today. There is a need to preserve and share the extensive history of “G” Division here in the Northwest Territories. We’re currently working with a number of partners to develop a display and travelling educational pieces commemorating special constables and the seamstresses and interpreters and the guides that helped the RCMP officers survive here in the early...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Prices of fur did come off last year. As the auction was just held recently, I haven’t got the information back from the department on what prices fur was fetching at this auction, but I would be more than happy to provide the Member and other Members with an update as soon as I get that information.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have had folks participate in what was the Aboriginal Community Constable Program. That was a pilot project and that’s since evolved into the Community Constable Program. There’s another intake this coming June in Regina. We’ve had four applicants. Two are active and we’re looking across the territory for other interested candidates to take part in that Community Constable Program in Regina. Thank you.

Public safety matters to the RCMP and it matters to me, and again, that discussion will happen. Thank you.

As I mentioned, the RCMP are there to protect our communities. We have a number of people employed at the Department of Justice through our probation services. People are there. Policies are in place to protect our communities, protect our public. Again, some of the questions the Member is asking me today, really, I find somewhat insulting to people who are putting their lives on the line every day going to work and also keeping our communities safe. Thank you.

We have a contract with the RCMP. That is their job. That is their role. We respect the role that the RCMP plays for us.

Again, I will reiterate, we will continue to work with them to ensure that the best practices are in place to ensure that our communities are safe.

Of course, I take the safety of our community very seriously. I will continue to work with the RCMP to ensure that communities across the Northwest Territories are as safe as they possibly can be.

The Member brings up a good point in trying to get the elders involved in the communities and the RCMP. This is something I’d like to take back to the RCMP. Of course, they are our partner in this, the Department of Justice, the RCMP and the communities, and we will get a response for the Member. I like his idea. Any way that we can encourage young people to get involved in the RCMP and protecting our communities and making them safe, that’s a good step in the right direction. I thank the Member for his suggestion.

It is very important that the RCMP continue to foster a strong working relationship with communities across the Northwest Territories. We’ve done a great deal of work in that regard helping communities establish policing plans, working with communities, the leadership of communities. We’re also moving into community safety plans now across the Northwest Territories, and again working with leaders and community members. We’re going to arrive at that. Through the Community Constable Program we will get constables into communities in the Northwest Territories that are going to provide the RCMP...

I mentioned it earlier, I’ll say it again, I will go back and have a discussion with the RCMP. Thank you.