R.J. Simpson

So there were not nine positions rolled out in -- oh, I guess the Member was talking about last fiscal year, so that would have been 2023-2024. We're still in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

So in the 2023-2024-fiscal year, the Member is correct, there were nine positions. Those were allocated to Aklavik, Dettah and N'dilo based in Yellowknife, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Simpson, two to Fort Smith, one to the K'atlodeeche First Nation stationed in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So our current agreement with the RCMP is for another seven years. So this is a long ways out. That being said, for a new model to be developed and, you know, fleshed out, it's going to take some time. And so this white paper came out three days ago. I don't -- no one that I know was expecting it. I don't believe the RCMP were part of the development of it. And so there hasn't been a lot of discussions on this. And so I don't really have any insight into what the model could look like because those conversations haven't started. That being said, it is an opportunity to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is a motion that is going to be directing standing committee to do work, it is essentially -- the committee could do this work without this motion so there's really not a purpose for Cabinet to vote on this. I don't want to begin meddling into the inner operations of standing committee. So Cabinet will be abstaining for those reasons. Thank you.

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act, be read for the second time.

The bill will bring the Northwest Territories Family Law Act in line with changes to the federal Divorce Act that came into force in 2021. The bill will also make an amendment to provide greater flexibility for the judiciary to create broadly applicable rules of court. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act; Statement of Consistency for Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act; Plain Language Summary for Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act; and, Statement of Consistency for Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Family Law Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that information on hand. What I will say is that we do have a significant number of RCMP officers. The RCMP budget has increased faster than really most other budgets in the government, and that's because we put a lot of emphasis on it. And so at some point we do have to, you know, stop the expansion and look at other priorities. That being said, there's always conversations going on. And when opportunities arise where we -- it looks like we can get a good deal from the federal government, we like to explore those and so there could be some of those talks...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we have a contract with the RCMP and that lays out the resourcing, and it's clear of the cost share breakdown. We pay 70 percent, the federal government pays 30 percent. We have advocated for more resources, and we were successful in that advocacy by receiving more funding through the First Nation and Inuit policing program which has closer to a 50/50 cost share, and so we have been successful in that regard. But that being said, we do have a contract, we do have a requirement to pay a certain amount, and so we can't get more resources from the federal government but...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the federal government, on March 10th, released a paper about the future of the RCMP or, at least, this existing administration's take on the future of the RCMP understanding there is a change of government happening tomorrow, so we'll see what happens. And that paper said that the federal government should be committed to working closely with the provinces to support a transition away from contract policing. Of course, here in the Northwest Territories we contract the RCMP to do our policing. But in that same paper, it said that Canada should also collaborate with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What it sounded like to me is the Member was imputing motives stating that, you know, this is an attempt at party politics and we're working as a party. I will let you know that I will never in this Assembly work as -- in a party system or strive to work in a party system or support a party system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.