Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT RCMP introduced a new division drug strategy in 2024 focused on better intelligence gathering and placing priority on disruptive techniques. The strategy includes creating a dedicated drug enforcement team in the NWT. Can the Minister of Justice say whether this team has been created and what community they are based in? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the crime reduction unit has been established. They are still staffing up. I'm not sure as of today how many members they have staffed up. But despite -- even if they're not fully staffed, they have been doing work across the Northwest Territories and, you know, not just in drug investigations, also doing things like working with the post office trying to ensure that we can stop drugs going through the mail and different types of things like that. This is a territorial unit, and it's based here in Yellowknife, but it can be deployed and will be deployed throughout the territory. And they have been doing work throughout the territory already. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Can the Minister commit on whether there have been more human resource allocations at RCMP detachments in my riding as part of this strategy? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wouldn't say that the human resource allocations were part of the divisional drug strategy, but there have been increases to the RCMP numbers in the Member's riding. K'atlodeeche First Nation had two positions added, one this year, one last year. The detachment in Fort Providence has also had positions added. And that's in addition to the new crime reduction unit and the emergency response team that are getting staffed up that also work territorially. So there's more assets available in the communities, and there's more territorial assets available to respond to incidents in the communities as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Final supplementary. Member from the Deh Cho.
Will the Minister commit to contacting RCMP detachments in my riding to learn what resources they need to implement this strategy? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I generally don't talk directly to the detachment commanders, but I do speak with the commanding officer and I'm happy to have that conversation with him. I know that, you know, he is very invested in this divisional drug strategy, and he is doing his best to ensure that the resources are available to officers across the territory. And often that includes things like training. Just having the awareness of, you know, when someone might be using drugs if they're driving a vehicle, then that gives you cause to stop that person and then take further action from there. So the resources, a lot of them are training and awareness, and I know that is happening and it's being rolled out. But I will commit to further discussing with the commanding officer about the resourcing, especially in the Member's riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
