Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that the new RCMP detachment is now open in Sachs Harbour. This has been a priority of both this and previous governments for many years and has finally become a reality. A corporal and constable are now in the community providing full-time policing services. They will be able to respond immediately to any situations that arise and will work on crime prevention activities with community members.
The detachment in Sachs Harbour was closed in 1992 due to resource issues. Since then officers from Inuvik have provided regular patrols and responded to emergencies. The community has been very successful in keeping the crime rate low, but this government felt a full-time police presence was required because of the logistics of responding to urgent situations.
Simply put, it can take several hours to get to Sachs Harbour in an emergency, because a plane has to charter in from Inuvik. This government felt this response time was simply not good enough and committed to re-establishing the detachment. As Members know, this was not an easy task.
First, the federal government had to agree that infrastructure for new detachments was a priority on the long list of national policing priorities. I want to thank the former Minister of Justice, Brendan Bell, for his successful work to lobby the federal minister of this issue.
Then the RCMP had to work through the logistics of repairing the detachment and hiring officers. This is a special posting. They wanted to make sure they had the right people for the job.
I am pleased to announce that Corporal Eric McKenzie is one of our former G Division officers who used to police Sachs Harbour when he worked at the Inuvik detachment. We are always happy to welcome officers back to our community. Their experience is crucial to our policing efforts. I would also like to extend a welcome to Constable Todd Midgett. I am looking forward to meeting both officers in person at the detachment’s formal opening scheduled for July 10, 2008.
This detachment will make a real difference in the lives of people in Sachs Harbour. I am proud to be able to make this announcement today. Community safety is a priority for this government, and this new detachment is a huge step toward our goal of increasing police presence in all the small communities.
I would like to congratulate RCMP G Division for all their work in making the detachment a reality. Thanks must go out to MLA Jacobson, Mayor Eldridge and the people of Sachs Harbour for their advocacy and support for the project. It is through the combined efforts of government, the community and the police themselves that we can truly progress towards making a community that is safer for everyone. This is a tremendous achievement for the community of Sachs Harbour.
The honourable Minister Responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board, Mr. Miltenberger.
