Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 477-18(2): Housing Engagement Strategy." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.
Tabled Document 305-18(2):
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document; it is a registration form for Earnscliffe Strategy Group from the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. I wish to table a document entitled "White Paper on the Independence and Accountability of Election Administration in the Northwest Territories."
Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 7, Bill 13, Committee Report 6-18(2), Tabled Document 261-18(2) with Member Hay River North in the chair.
I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee, Mr. Beaulieu?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018, and continue with the Department of Justice and Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Seeing as how we took a break earlier, we'll take another one, but a very short recess, and resume with consideration of the document. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
Recognizing a quorum, I will call Committee of the Whole back to order. We will now continue our consideration of Tabled Document 26118(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 20172018, with the Department of Justice. Minister Sebert, do you have any witnesses you would like to bring into the Chamber?
Yes, I do.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister Sebert, please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right is Martin Goldney, deputy minister, and to my left, Mandi Bolstad, director of corporate services, Department of Justice. Thank you.
Thank you. Committee, we will now proceed to the next activity from last week, policing services. The activity description can be found on page 273 and the activity detail on page 274. Does committee have any questions or comments? Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions here on First Nations policing. You know, I recall in the past there's been a lot of emphasis on having First Nations policing, but lately I really haven't seen very much in the communities to encourage people to take part. You know, I believe it was around 2005 or something, we actually had some people take on this and actually go to Saskatchewan for training, but lately it doesn't seem that there's really much in the line of recruitment. I have seen them in the communities a couple of times, but you know, there's a lot more that needs to be done, especially going into the schools and speaking to the children and trying to get them interested while they're in high school so they know what grades they have to maintain. Will the department ensure that this is continued? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Sebert.
Yes, Mr. Chair. We're hopeful that the federal government's renewal of the First Nations Policing Program will result in additional resources being added to the detachments serving smaller communities. I believe there are four positions that are currently funded. Perhaps Mr. Goldney could expand a bit on this.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Deputy Minister Goldney.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In addition to the work under the First Nations Policing Program, we can advise committee that we are well aware that having Aboriginal officers is a priority for the RCMP, and they do undertake initiatives for recruitment. We will certainly encourage them to continue those efforts, so that we can see officers in communities from communities. Thank you.
Thank you, Deputy Minister Goldney. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Also under territorial policing services agreement, I see the funds have gone down almost a couple of million, or 1.9. I hope that does not affect the services that we have in the communities. As I mentioned last week, services have improved in Tsiigehtchic with working closely with the detachment in Fort McPherson. We have seen an increased presence in the community, more stops along the highway, which is good to see. People really appreciate that. Will that affect the services? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Sebert.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, the services in the communities, whether small or large, will not be affected. I understand that the decline in the amount is largely as a result of the construction of the new police detachment in Inuvik, so we are not anticipating cutting service in any way. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have brought this issue up in the past, but it still hasn't been addressed. In order to have a good presence in the communities I will use Aklavik as an example. They are isolated a good majority of the year, all through the summer, and yet they have no boat, outboard motor, whether it is jet boat or whatever. In our communities, we have a number of activities, whether it is canoe races or search and rescue efforts, especially in Aklavik, because people sometimes get lost between travelling between Aklavik and Inuvik, yet the RCMP there have no outfit to go and look for these people or to help in these activities. Will the Minister ensure that this is addressed? They have a number of boats, whether it is in Inuvik or other communities, that could be transferred there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Sebert.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. That is kind of a managerial or operational issue for the RCMP. All I can say is I will bring it to their attention. I am trying to remember when I was asked this question before. I am not certain, but I believe there is a boat in Inuvik; perhaps I could get back to the Member with respect to the situation in Aklavik. I do recall the question was asked before, and I thought there was coverage out of Inuvik, but I do appreciate that obviously there is some distance between the communities. I think the best I can offer is to provide the Member with that information. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, just going to Tsiigehtchic, it really hasn't been identified how long the lease on the unit there would be. Just as I mentioned, it just started in the fall with the trailer that was brought in. It is really being used well. I would just like to know: what is the longterm plan for that unit? Will that continue for, say, five years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Sebert.
Mr. Chair, I know that the Housing Corporation installed a twobedroom portable unit they allow the police to use for overnight accommodation for the members on patrol. This has made police coverage in Tsiigehtchic better, from what I have heard from the Member. I assume that this would be a longterm lease, but as to the exact term, I am not sure. We are not aware of any plans to discontinue this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is about it. I could get the exact time from the Minister later on. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just want to ask the Minister on the costsharing arrangements with the territorial police services agreement and the First Nations policing? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Sebert.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for the territorial police services agreement is 70:30, with us paying 70 per cent of the cost, the federal government the other 30. With respect to the First Nations Policing, we provide 54 per cent of the funding while the federal government provides the other 46. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, is there any way that, if there was more money put into the First Nations Policing, of our share, that there would be more money available from the federal government? I suppose it is on the First Nations Policing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Sebert.
We are hopeful that the renewal of the First Nations Policing Program will result in additional resources being added to detachments serving smaller communities, so we are hopeful and optimistic that the federal government will be coming up with more. I suppose conceivably that would mean we might be coming up with more. I don't think we have really reached that stage in our deliberations with respect to this matter. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, assuming that there is a separate agreement or an agreement within the overall services agreement for First Nations Policing, I am wondering when the agreement expires? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Sebert.
First, Ms. Bolstad could attempt to answer this. I am not sure the answer to that question.
Thank you, Minister Sebert. Ms. Bolstad.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We actually have a legacy agreement. It is not actually the First Nations Policing Policy that it is under. It's a legacy agreement, so it does not terminate. It is ongoing until a new policy is established. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
