Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I really think that the Minister should get familiarized with that because P1s are the most important thing in making sure, for myself, instead of bringing in outsiders, we have Aboriginals who can take care of our own. We should be supporting them instead of being pushed aside. I really think that we should have senior members, older members coming into our communities, our small communities, because they won't get as excited as younger senior officers. I think that any of the transfers that are being brought in, like for sergeants and corporals who are running...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It says First Nations policing, P1s. We have a lot of qualified individuals south, north, who should be laterally transferred over, and they are being overlooked. It seems to me like, in some cases, they've been really bringing in outsiders when we have individuals who are more than qualified in our communities to do the job. What is this Minister's stance on P1s on First Nations members? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to 279, our community policing in the NWT through our contract between the GNWT and the Government of Canada. I've been watching in regard to this hearing on the P1 statuses for transfers across for detachments such as the sergeants, the selection that are coming into our communities. Go ahead, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to welcome my beautiful wife, Jenny, and my son Joseph into the House today. I am so blessed to have them down here. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think what we should do is, when they're applying for these positions and saying they're an Aboriginal member, they should show ID. That ID has to be shown. I have an Inuvialuit card; I'm Inuvialuit, and I have my number. Any kind of P1 status is through the territorial government, and we're the ones that are paying them, so I think we should have a little bit of say in who we're getting. In regard to that, I think status cards should be shown. Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's all I have.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's a lot of good information that didn't answer my question. I asked the Minister, Mr. Chair, in regard to supporting Aboriginal P1s that are qualified to do the positions and transfer them laterally into another position in another community. Where does this Minister, in the support of P1s First Nations Aboriginal members, instead of bringing them from the outside and half the time bringing in their friends, where does this Minister stand on that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

On this one, policing services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to all the jobs, they all seem to be in headquarters, six of them. Nothing in the Beaufort-Delta where the actual oil and gas is, in the Sahtu. Are there any plans to start putting our jobs in the communities where the oil and gas is really at, or just keeping everything in Yellowknife like a sponge? Oh, did I say that out loud? I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This morning, I woke up and I said, "Why, why am I here?" I am here, Madam Speaker, for my constituents in Nunakput and to make a difference across our territory. I am here for our elders, our youth, all residents in the territory and the Beaufort-Delta. I am here to serve Nunakput, Madam Speaker. I listen and try to make a difference in our constituents' lives, that we could try to make a change and help them with their tough tasks that they have ahead of them, which sometimes feel like mountains, so big that they can't change, but we are here to change it. Anyone...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you Minister for that. I'm encouraged to see that we're all working together to help me to serve the people in my riding and making sure that that's one less thing they have to worry about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.