Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just following up to my Member’s statement earlier, the North has a big history of work that the RCMP division has done not only in the Northwest Territories but across Nunavut and the Yukon as well. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if there’s any type of museum infrastructure or some room dedicated to all of the history, and the good work and significant events that the RCMP “G” Division has done in the North, and is there somewhere dedicated in the Northwest Territories that our residents and our public can be part of that history and learn that history. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a good question. Unfortunately, I don’t know if a room exists where this information can be displayed and shared. You’re right; the “G” Division has a long and distinguished history here in the Northwest Territories, from the lost patrol of Rat River, the Mad Trapper, travel up and down the Mackenzie River, travel into the Eastern Arctic when it was part of “G” Division. There is a real solid history here.
I have had an opportunity to travel to a number of the detachments and I’ve been in the detachments. Many of the officers in those buildings actually have a real connection to the past and you will see pictures and historical sort of documents available. But as far as where it’s all brought together and whether it has been all brought together, I don’t know, but I will check with the RCMP to see how they present this information so that they can share their impressive history with all Northerners. Thank you.
Thank you, and I do agree with the Minister’s comments. We do have a very strong history of the RCMP here in the North and we’re well aware of that. I’d like to commend the Minister for going and taking a look at that, but would he be willing to dedicate a specific museum here in the Northwest Territories, perhaps through Yellowknife which is one of our hubs of all the communities? Would he be willing to dedicate some type of infrastructure towards the history of the RCMP “G” Division and all of their significant events, their members, lost members in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you. I remember as a kid, going to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre here in Yellowknife, they had a lot of fantastic displays, and one of the displays actually had a significant amount of RCMP history and memorabilia. I believe that display is now gone, but I would be happy to talk to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to see about bringing those materials back together and creating a display that maybe could go to different museums throughout the Northwest Territories.
We do have a number of facilities that may be able to show a display like this, but I’d also be interested in talking to the RCMP to see how they would like some of their history presented.
Budget constraints being what they will, anything that’s going to cost money would have to go through committee for consideration. Thank you.
Thank you. Would the Minister not only look at the detachments here in the Northwest Territories, but also work with other jurisdictions that might have possibly taken some of the artifacts, some of the archives from the Northwest Territories when we didn’t have specific detachments here in the Northwest Territories and look at possibly bringing them back to the North? So our Northerners, our residents, can see those archives, see those artifacts, and be proud of the RCMP and the heritage that they have in the Northwest Territories. Would the Minister be willing to look at other jurisdictions and see what artifacts and archives should belong in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you. Yes, I’d be, obviously, happy to talk to the RCMP about their history and where some of the historic items may exist. But I would also suggest to the Member that helping people in the Northwest Territories understand our history and the important work that “G” Division has done is only part of it. Getting that information out to other people in the country is important.
“G” Division has a long history that stretches back as the Territories has become a smaller jurisdiction. So there are other individuals outside of what is the Northwest Territories now that have some history with “G” Division as well. I think if we could find a way to share that information, we should take that opportunity. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
