Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to continue with questions for the Minister of Justice here. In his statement he mentioned that one of our goals is sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. We also have to make that the focus of the schools. He talked about the community policing plan. I just want to ask the Minister of Justice in his community policing plan if, in the plan itself, the RCMP are asked to go into the school and be a presence in the schools, having them make sure that our teachers and students are safe and have that assurance of having their presence there. Is that part of the policing plan in any of the communities?
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These community policing plans are actually an agreement between the RCMP and the community itself. They sit down and talk about what the priorities are and set some of their direction. I can’t tell you what every community policing plan says. There are 33 of them. I do know that in some communities, the communities have indicated that education and visits to the school are a priority, and that is in some of the community policing plans.
Would the Minister commit to creating a ministerial directive in speaking with the RCMP to make it a priority, and make it mandatory for RCMP to be in the schools and educate the students on what their roles are in the community and in the schools, and create that strong partnership so that our students can speak up, our teachers can speak up, and let RCMP know what some of their concerns are in terms of bullying, violence, and other things that are happening in the school system or on school grounds?
I’ve had a lot of conversations with the commanding officer of “G” Division where I’ve indicated that education is very important in the Northwest Territories. Having the RCMP engage with students is a priority. I do know that a number of the detachments have been very active with community groups and things like the Not Us! campaign. As I’ve already indicated, I do know that in a number of communities, the communities have made that a priority as well. I’ll continue to have the conversations with the commanding officer of “G” Division and continue to encourage him to engage our communities, to provide education and, where possible, get into the schools.
Just for an example, our Not Us! Committee in Inuvik invited all RCMP staff to a family night. We introduced them to the community and they engaged and played board games, had discussions, sat down, had tea and coffee with the residents of the community. It really builds that strength and partnership and relationship within our community so that we feel comfortable talking to them and they feel comfortable talking to us. It’s been very helpful.
A while back when I was doing health promotion, we had a program with the coroner’s office where the coroner went into the schools and did an education on things like drinking and driving, and violence. I was just wondering if the Minister had any programs in the future, or near future, where the coroner goes into the schools and does an education on their job and some of the things that they do see, because it’s a reality but it really sends a very strong message and education.
I’m not certain whether that program still exists in the Department of Justice. I don’t recall it, but it sounds like a really great idea. What I’ll do is talk to the department to see what existed in the past and whether or not something could be put in place, and I will certainly come and talk to the Member and committee to see if that’s something that we might be able to do in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
