Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement earlier today, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice. I would like to ask the Minister how long is the RCMP’s response time to complaints in Tsiigehtchic compared to Fort McPherson.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have that specific information in front of me. I do know that in the summertime they have regular planned patrols of the community where they drive in from Fort McPherson. In the wintertime, if there is an emergency, they will charter a plane to come in. I will commit to getting the Member some specifics on actual response time.
It’s very interesting they charter a plane to Tsiigehtchic when we have no airstrip. Can the Minister describe the benefits of having a permanent police detachment in those communities lucky enough to have them?
I should have said they will have a flight into the community, not necessarily a plane. I had an opportunity to visit Tsiigehtchic with the Member in April where I had an opportunity to talk to leadership with the commanding officer for “G” Division. At that time, the commanding officer of “G” Division did commit to meeting with the community and working on a policing plan that met the needs of the community. I understand that a number of activities or items were agreed to.
I also understand that, having a meeting with some Gwich’in leadership in December, that plan has come off the rails a little bit.
I have had an opportunity to sit down with the commanding officer of “G” Division, who has indicated that he will go back to the community and sit down with the leadership again to try to bring that community policing plan back together. At the end of the day, policing patrols are at the discretion of the RCMP, but as a government we’re very concerned about having coverage in small communities and we believe that one of the best ways to do this is to work with the community and develop individualized community policing plans. I will commit to the Member today that the commanding officer has promised and indicated that he will go into the community, and work with your leadership to develop a plan that works for Tsiigehtchic.
Will the Minister meet with the community leaders in Tsiigehtchic to discuss putting in a police detachment there?
At the current time, there is actually a dedicated police officer in Fort McPherson to provide services to Tsiigehtchic. I’m happy to sit down and talk about options and possibilities about how we can provide a greater range of services in Tsiigehtchic. A stand-alone detachment is going to be a minimum of $5.5 million investment to develop a detachment. I think we need to work on other options first. I’m certainly willing to meet with the leadership to talk about options that would work for them.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister meet with the community of Tsiigehtchic to create a long-term plan and implement the plan?
I’ve already committed to go to the community and meet with the leadership. I’ve also indicated that the commanding officer of “G” Division and RCMP from Fort McPherson are absolutely willing to go and work with the community. So I guess again the answer is yes.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
