Louis Sebert

Yes, of course, we do take seriously all of the items that are in the mandate. Perhaps I could undertake to supply the Member opposite with some more detail. I know that this is an important aspect of the mandate and we are working on it, but as to dates and progress, perhaps if I could undertake to give the Member opposite more information directly.

I can certainly update the relevant committees on how things are proceeding with respect to the land use portion. Again, it may be other Ministers could assist on the larger overall progress on these types of files. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for his question, but that is not really a part of the land use planning process, and the question might be directed to another Minister. Thank you.

I can advise that all RCMP cadets receive problem-solving training based at depot and where cultural awareness is woven in with concept of human rights, harassment, discrimination, ethics, and bias-free policing and crisis management. Cultural awareness training comprises of 66 hours of depot training curriculum, of which 17 hours is dedicated to Aboriginal-specific training, and I can advise also that members transferred to G Division must complete a mandatory six-hour Aboriginal awareness online course through the RCMP's internal education system. So hopefully officers are well equipped to...

Yes, certainly going back to the mandate of this government, we do want to move ahead with all these types of negotiations. I can advise that a senior member of the government, the ADM of Environment and Natural Resources, is working very hard on this file.

There have certainly been delays. There are serious outstanding issues that the parties need to negotiate, implementation, for one; zoning around communities, pipelines, and so on. So, we are attempting to move ahead with this, but there are complicated outstanding issues.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I can advise that there will be additional training provided to investigators. As recently as January there was some additional training provided. So the police are very aware of this issue. Additional training will be provided, and hopefully the rather shocking figure that has been mentioned by the Member opposite will decrease. I can advise the police are treating this matter very seriously.

I simply wanted to give some background before I entered into a discussion with the Member opposite about what the RCMP here are doing. I'm pleased to advise that, in my meeting with the commanding officer, he advised me that all sexual assault files from the period 2010 to 2014 were being reviewed. As I mentioned, it was found in The Globe and Mail study approximately 36 per cent of the cases were dismissed or found to be unfounded.

Now, this is at the investigatory stage, not at the court stage. A closer examination of the figures, that figure of 36 per cent, the RCMP found that 21 per cent...

Well, all of the progress on all of these types of files, it takes two to tango and sometimes three or four to tango, so progress is not solely determined by us. We clearly want to make progress on all of these files. However, progress sometimes can be slow and painstaking, so I can't make any guarantees as to date.

As all Members know, it is a commitment of this government to move all of these land use plans and negotiations generally with Aboriginal governments and other stakeholders ahead. We believe we do have the people in place, and we are looking forward to progress.