Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use my second opportunity to get some information from the Minister of Justice, as we all have been recently informed in a very troubling circumstance that’s happened. We’ve been informed lately about a Japanese tourist, what appears to be a single lady, who has gone missing for reasons unknown and, of course, it’s best that we don’t speculate, but certainly it’s hard not to fear the worst.
Residents such as myself and Northerners at large would like to know what the Department of Justice is doing. People have been asking me questions such as what is the RCMP doing, what resources have been committed to engage this process to help find her.
What is the GNWT doing to connect with this issue, because it is urgent. Finally, what can Northerners do to help in this very terrible, troubling circumstance? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, this is a very concerning issue for everybody. People do want to find this lady. We have confidence in the RCMP that they will locate her. Of course, we know Yellowknife certainly is a very caring community and that people want to lend a hand and want to try to help out in any way possible in trying to locate her. It’s important that people go through the right channels with search and rescue teams, working under the search commander so they don’t inadvertently do any harm to the search.
I’d encourage people, if they do want to help out and want to get involved, to contact the Ground Search and Rescue here in Yellowknife. Their phone number is 446-4727, or 446-GSAR, and they will be able to help assist in the search. Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate that information provided by the Minister, and I didn’t give him any notice. It’s an issue that we’re sitting here thinking about.
Is there any type of formal coordination for this normally? I need to think that this is a one-off circumstance that we always try to figure out as it happens. When Northerners go missing, we’re familiar within the Deh Cho and MLA Menicoche’s riding of Nahendeh that somebody had gone missing at one time and it was difficult to get the resources up and running immediately.
What type of things do we have in place so when a terrible circumstance happens like this, Northerners can immediately get involved and know that proper steps and processes are there working as quickly and diligently as possible? Thank you.
Thank you. The RCMP have protocols, they have processes in place when it comes to search and rescue and trying to identify or find a missing person. We have to remain supportive of the RCMP’s efforts and their investigative skills. We also would ask Members and the public to be supportive of the RCMP at this time as they continue to search for this lady. Thank you.
I believe in the Yellowknife region, I’m not sure about South Slave, but I know we have the SARA, so that’s the search and rescue group. I know, Mr. Speaker, in your region we have the Rangers and we have certain resources that we can tap into, but Northerners being Northerners – the wonderful type of people we are – we want to help.
What more can the Minister do from his particular position and what type of public communications can he send out from the Department of Justice to provide opportunity for people to lend a hand?
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say – and this will be my last question – this woman is more than just a tourist. She appears to be a single woman by herself, and that sends chills down my spine that the worst could happen and I want to make sure we’re doing the best job we can. That’s not with any criticism on anyone, I just fear that we need to do as much as we can and I know Northerners everywhere want to participate because I have no doubt she’s in the prayers of everyone. Thank you.
I can assure Members, I can assure the public that we are doing our best. I know the RCMP are doing their best to try to locate this lady. We do have – and I mentioned a number earlier – if people do want to get out and help in the search, the number again is 446-4727 and that’s the Ground Search and Rescue. If folks want to help out, please call and we can use some help in the search. So again, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
