Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister of Justice for his statement in regard to the hundredth anniversary.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I am standing here talking about an issue close to the heart of people in Tsiigehtchic especially, policing services or the lack of policing services in our small communities. Mr. Speaker, we have some 10 communities in the Northwest Territories that don’t have policing services year round, but yet require assistance of police detachments to provide additional services.
Mr. Speaker, the lack of RCMP presence in Tsiigehtchic is not only a stress on the local residents and its resources but also the local council. Mr. Speaker, there is only one bylaw officer who is responsible not only to implement local bylaws but enforce liquor regulations and be the person that is responsible for dealing with those issues in regard to the breach of prohibition order for the community of Tsiigehtchic and criminal activities that take place late into the evening. But yet, Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the RCMP members are not able to respond to any callouts without backup. Yet, Mr. Speaker, we have our local bylaw officers who are there all by themselves with no backup, no one to support them and they take these efforts on themselves.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important for the Minister of Justice to continue implementing police services in all our remaining 10 communities. More importantly, finding ways to improve those services. If that means scheduled community visits, developing programs on the local radio station, working with the schools, working with the community councils and also having annual meetings, or even monthly meetings with the local council to inform them of improving that working relationship with the RCMP. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, support the local bylaw officer who is there and left all by himself with no backup support. That’s why it’s important the RCMP and bylaw officers work in conjunction with each other and also provide the training that’s required for the bylaw officer to carry out his responsibilities.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister and department should seriously consider looking at recruitment and retention programs for summer students so that they can also assist the bylaw officer during the summer months on community patrols.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s an essential service that we all sometimes take for granted.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Again, Mr. Speaker, a lot of times we take policing for granted, except those communities that don’t have it. I think it’s important that the Department of Justice, the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories take this issue seriously. It is putting our bylaw officers’ lives on the line, but more importantly they do require that support. All 10 communities that require policing services should be enforced.
At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Justice questions on this matter. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
