R.J. Simpson

Thank you. So I think we would be the minor partner in that program. That would likely be something the department of health would lead if we're talking about mental health workers responding to crises. So I'm happy to work with the department of health examining things like that, and that's sort of the model that I was speaking of. But we would not be the lead department on something like that, depending on what this hypothetical model would look like. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is the commanding officer the former commanding officer is now gone but we have an acting commanding officer in that role, and I don't believe that the standing committee has met with that new commanding officer. So I recommend that they reach out and they request a meeting. I think that would be valuable to have these discussions, you know, with the people who would actually be, you know, working with the dogs. But to the Member's question, what can we do to disrupt the drug trade? Mr. Speaker, we're trying. The RCMP have a new strategy. I spoke about it...

Thank you. There won't be a document; there won't be a plan to be tabled in the House. We are developing an approach to working with the federal government, but we have too many strategies, too many frameworks that we spend a lot of time developing but not enough time implementing, and so we are implementing an approach to federal engagement. And we have the mandate done, hopefully the budget will be passed soon, and hopefully I'll be heading to Ottawa right after this so that we can begin those engagements. Thank you.

Thank you. So I believe that's in the next section so we can address that once we get there. Thank you.

With me I have Charlene Doolittle, deputy minister of the Department of Justice, and James Bancroft, director of corporate services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I can assure the Member that, you know, I'm the Minister of Justice and I'm from Hay River, so these are not questions that I have not asked before. I've had conversations with my colleagues and with the commanding officer about this because I you know, I have that same sense as anyone else. Like, who doesn't want a police dog in their community, especially when you're feeling the effects of drugs. So the having the K-9 based in Yellowknife allows it to be quickly more quickly deployed to locations where it needs, whether that is in the South Slave or elsewhere...

I'd like to hand it to the director.

Thank you. We do have a plan for that position. It has not been reduced. And we're just holding off pending the approval of this budget. We don't know how things are going to go with the negotiations with Members, whether or not we're going to need to find additional money and where we might need to find that money. So I look forward to staffing that position once we are through this process, if we make it through successfully. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm here to present the 20242025 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the Department's estimates propose an increase of $3.8 million, or 2.6 percent, over the 20232024 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the department while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

Forced growth funding of $1.9 million which consists of additional policing resources for Fort Providence, the establishment of the RCMP "G" Division Territorial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Build that wall. I'm just joking, of course. The territorial border, it is a you know, it is a border but in Canada, there are mobility rights. We can't just stop people at the border and search their vehicles. There was a time when it was easier to do that. But unfortunately, we don't have that ability. So what we do is we work with or the RCMP, I suppose, undertakes investigations. They try their best to stop drugs before they come into the territory. And I always say, we need people to bring information forward. The RCMP need credible tips to act upon. So I'd...