Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last month I attended a meeting with my counterparts from across Canada. We discussed many issues related to justice and public safety, but the one that will likely be of particular interest to this Assembly was the issue of aboriginal justice and policing.
I called for improvements to policing in our small and remote communities and highlighted the challenges of northern policing. There was considerable support from the provinces and territories as well as the federal Minister, Mr. Day. Many said that they have similar issues, especially in their remote and northern communities. I emphasized the need for additional funding to increase the number of aboriginal officers in our workforce and to reintroduce special constables as a significant component of our force.
We all know the statistics. The territories have very high crime rates. Here in the Northwest Territories our rate is six times the national average. We want to recruit more RCMP officers from the communities. That would give us officers who speak our languages and are fully aware of local issues.
As Members are aware, we have been asking the federal government to fully include the NWT in the First Nations Policing Program. Most RCMP positions in our territory are funded 70 per cent by the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the remaining 30 percent from the federal government. This program would allow us to convert some of our positions currently held by aboriginal members to be funded 48 per cent by the Government of the Northwest Territories, 52 percent by the federal government.
This is the same way aboriginal police in southern Canada are funded. Right now we only have four positions that are funded this way. We believe we could have many more. The savings could be reinvested in policing at no additional cost to the Government of Northwest Territories.
We know that we will be affected by the RCMP’s backup policy more than the provinces. Most of our detachments are in small communities that have only two or three officers. Many communities in the South have detachments with a staffing complement that already meets the backup policy requirements. Backup is a national issue for the RCMP, and we are still waiting to learn the details about what we will be required to provide for the officers in our communities.
One thing is clear, Mr. Speaker. Although larger jurisdictions may absorb the additional costs more easily, this government will need to make substantial investments in policing. I have asked Minister Stockwell Day to pursue a Northern Policing Framework that will recognize the unique challenges of policing in the North and provide funding for aboriginal policing. These officers would continue to work in our communities — aboriginal people policing aboriginal people.
Through our community justice program this government has made investments in traditional models of justice: sentencing circles, crime prevention that includes the whole community, elders helping youth to become responsible adults. Now we want to increase the number of aboriginal officers and reintroduce special constables as a significant part of our police force. This will help to address the pressures of implementing the backup policy while improving policing services and reducing crime through early interventions.
None of us know what will happen in the federal election, but you have my word that I will continue to push these policing measures as Minister of Justice. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Before I go on to Members’ statements, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a special day for one of our Members. It happens to be Mr. Lafferty’s, the Member for Monfwi’s, birthday today. Happy birthday.
