Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about the RCMP Special Constable program. I would like to follow up my statements with questions for the Minister of Justice. Can the Minister of Justice tell me: what is the status of his discussions, if any, at the most recent federal/provincial/territorial Justice Ministers meeting with respect to aboriginal policing and special constables work?
Thank you Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for asking that question on special constables. It has been an ongoing discussion on that issue. Just recently, in early September, I went to Quebec City and met with provincial, federal and territorial Ministers at that time. I did stress, as I indicated in my Minister’s statement, the urgency of having special constables in the North — our uniqueness, our isolated post and also the backup plan with nine two-man detachments. It is sometimes difficult.
The Minister of Public Safety was there, Minister Day, and he heard my concerns. He did stress to all of us sitting around the table that he has identified the North as unique — how we deliver, how we charter through the isolated communities. It takes so many hours to get through the communities. Those have been under discussion, and from what I hear, it was a productive meeting with Minister Day. I will certainly follow through with the remark that he has made now that he is back in office, and we will follow through from my department. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell the House how soon we can expect to see special constables in the communities?
Mr. Speaker, I have met with the commissioner of the RCMP and also just last week with the deputy commissioner. I did stress to them the urgency of having to deal with the backup policy — having a special constable in the community. At that time the deputy commissioner did indicate that in early spring they will probably share some announcement. Right now they are working on the job descriptions and the length of time of the training that needs to take place. There are many elements of training to become a special constable. They will be constables similar to the RCMP but without any investigations. Those are issues that they are working out, and they are almost at the final stages. An announcement will likely take place around April next year.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if my communities of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e would be impacted by the addition of special constables?
Mr. Speaker, we have to focus on the small communities that have two man detachments and also three man detachments and four man detachments, because backup policy does take up a lot of overtime hours for RCMP officers. We need to look after their safety. Those are the areas that we need to focus on. And, yes, the Member’s riding will be positively impacted, and other ridings as well. That’s what we are focusing on, and we’re getting ready for the special announcement in the early new year. We are looking forward to that, and I will continue working with the Members on this particular item. If I have any more news, I will certainly present it to the standing committee.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Oral questions, the honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
