Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Merci beaucoup, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Justice, and they are in relation to community policing in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has a responsibility for contracting with the RCMP to deliver policing services across the Northwest Territories. The Yellowknife detachment has, for years, been recognized as chronically understaffed. The city has grown considerably and the complexity of crime and policing has also grown. I would like to ask the Minister, from his point of view, what progress has been made or what steps are underway right now to enhance police presence in the Yellowknife RCMP detachment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member will recall, the G division of the RCMP provided this government, my department, with a business plan that speaks to the need for resources going forward and what they see as a shortfall in current resources. We are working very closely with them to try to address that. Of course, we have an upcoming budget session and we will have further discussions related to this, but I guess I can give my assurance that we are working closely with the RCMP to try to meet some of these staff and resources, not only in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, but right across the Northwest Territories. One of our main priorities, in fact, is to deal with those communities that don’t have detachments and talk about the provision of service in those communities as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the aspects of enhanced policing -- and the Minister quite appropriately said we are looking for services across the NWT -- is the provision in the NWT of a specially trained dog in the area of drug detection that would be based in Yellowknife and would be available for increased enforcement. Can the Minister advise whether this is part of the business plan and part of the service we can expect to see on site here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the drug dog the Member is speaking of, a full-profile German Shepard dog trained in drug detection, has already been deployed in the Northwest Territories. The Member is correct; it is based in Yellowknife, but that dog will be used right across the entire territory. I believe that is currently already in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the welcome pieces of information that we got when we visited the RCMP detachment a few weeks ago was that there is going to be much more involvement of the Victims Services Program in the whole policing regime. Are we able to handle, through this Victims Services Program, our current workload, and what’s our capacity to handle what is likely to be an increased workload for the Victims Services Program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have victims assistance committees that we felt needed additional help. We brought on new members. I believe there are two new members appointed to the Victims Assistance Committee, and I believe that’s the committee the Member is speaking of. Now we are up to full membership. There have been a few meetings and proposals put forward that will speak to additional funding through the victims assistance fund. I know there is an amount of money that’s available through that fund. I don’t have the number in front of me, but I know that money is being accessed. We are also working on being able to deliver the latest annual report that should be out currently. I do agree that this is a priority that is becoming more and more important. We are recognizing the value of this committee and these efforts and valuing the entire system more. I think you can certainly look forward to more of a heightened profile for this aspect of the system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, the RMCP is demonstrating quite a refreshing attitude toward being more connected with the community in the delivery of community priorities for policing. I wonder if the department has been looking at the Police Advisory Committee model that just started here as a way of potentially assisting other communities in the NWT to have a better connection with policing in their community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 106-15(4): Community Policing In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the model the Member is referring is certainly a good one. It is something we are reviewing. I know the RCMP is very much in favour of having as much community involvement as possible and I think that enables them to do a much better job. The closer they are able to work with this community and all communities across the North, obviously the more effective they are going to be. So this is a direction that we are continuing to move toward. I think policing is getting much more progressive, in my opinion, and I think there are a number of good initiatives underway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.