Louis Sebert

Mr. Chair, as I mentioned earlier, 29 communities do have restorative justice programs. I would like to feel that they are all successful. I suppose it depends somewhat on the commitment of those who are sitting on these committees. I mean, success, I suppose, is somewhat hard to judge. I do know, speaking from the community that I represent, that a great number of matters were diverted from the court system. It does, however, take dedicated members to sit on the restorative justice committee. So, overall, I would say the program is a success. I suppose it works better in some communities than...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for the territorial police services agreement is 70:30, with us paying 70 per cent of the cost, the federal government the other 30. With respect to the First Nations Policing, we provide 54 per cent of the funding while the federal government provides the other 46. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That is correct. This funding identified on page 82 is additional funding to the money that we put into the public trustee's office. Thank you.

Again, Mr. Chair, I can't speak to the individual arrangements between the communities and the RCMP, but I can certainly find out whether the police do supply those statistics to the town councils or governments in those communities. One would hope they would. All I can say is that they certainly do in the community I used to live in. I would assume that would be the template for other communities also. We can check on that and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. That is kind of a managerial or operational issue for the RCMP. All I can say is I will bring it to their attention. I am trying to remember when I was asked this question before. I am not certain, but I believe there is a boat in Inuvik; perhaps I could get back to the Member with respect to the situation in Aklavik. I do recall the question was asked before, and I thought there was coverage out of Inuvik, but I do appreciate that obviously there is some distance between the communities. I think the best I can offer is to provide the Member with that information...

Certainly, it is essentially the same job, but I understand that the estates clerk position identified on page 282 is work done on behalf of Canada. The public trustee would be doing that kind of work, and other work in addition, as I understand it. Thank you.

They are actually called community policing plans between the RCMP and the individual communities.

Yes, Mr. Chair. We're hopeful that the federal government's renewal of the First Nations Policing Program will result in additional resources being added to the detachments serving smaller communities. I believe there are four positions that are currently funded. Perhaps Mr. Goldney could expand a bit on this.

Can I have a different chair?

---Laughter

The business case will be worked on and be produced for the fall, and we will be examining that issue, as I indicated.

I have to say that all of the police activity, Mr. Chair, is not driven by the number of calls. I think the police do a certain number of patrols in the community, just somewhat irregularly for reasons that are pretty obvious, but not necessarily in response to a call. It is a mixture, really. Obviously, they will respond to calls, have to determine the seriousness and how to respond, but my understanding is they make patrols to the communities, even if there is not a specific event or complaint. Thank you, Mr. Chair.