Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Justice in regard to the policing in small communities where we don’t have a permanent RCMP presence, but more in line of trying to add policing services to our smaller communities. In light of the decision to look at establishing a position in Fort McPherson, it was welcome news for the community of Tsiigehtchic, but we’re seeing some challenges in regard to the actual delivery of the program in the communities. I think even the RCMP have identified some areas that they have issue with in regard to not only providing the service but being able to actually physically spend time in the community, have an office to work out of, have a telecommunications system in place so that they can relay between themselves and back into Fort McPherson by radio communications. I think that those are the things we missed on that decision. So I’d like to ask the Minister exactly what are we doing to improve and equip the RCMP and the communities with the resources they need to adequately provide policing services in those communities, ensuring that we have the equipment and the facilities to operate out of? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Those communities without RCMP detachments, we provide services through nearby detachments such as Fort McPherson. We’ve allocated a position there specifically for Tsiigehtchic and the Member is referring to equipment and mobile units such as radios. That equipment is outdated. We work with the RCMP “G” Division to upgrade that equipment and through the federal expenditures they have the capital expenditure programming and we have our own investment into those communities, as well, to upgrade such equipment that officers need to use. There’s been a visit from the RCMP detachment commander to Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic to meet with the community leaders and the bylaw officers to improve those lines of communication. So those communications will be ongoing and we need to improve even more. Mahsi.
Thank you. Again, I noted from the information I received in regard to a report from the RCMP, one of the issues that they identified was the lack of office space availability in Tsiigehtchic for the RCMP so when they go they’re able to do their work, they’re able to work out of an office setting and able to process the paper that has to be processed as part of their investigation. So what I’d like to know is what is the government doing to accommodate them by finding office space in those communities where they have to physically do their paperwork, interview witnesses or deal with the individuals that they’re dealing with? So what are we doing to provide the adequate office space that they need to operate out of in these communities?
Mahsi. Those are the areas where we need to work with the community, such as Tsiigehtchic, what kind of service that can be provided at the community level. RCMP “G” Division comes into the community and they do have an overnight facility, but it only has one bed in there. So that creates some challenges when we have to have two officers in the community. But at the same time, we as the GNWT work with “G” Division as well to identify those key aspects of what’s required at the community. So we’ll continue to work with the Member and the community to identify those key areas. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary question, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the last fiscal year there was some 72 calls made from the community of Tsiigehtchic requesting services in the community which required the RCMP presence. So I’d like to ask the Minister what do we do to ensure that those 72 calls have been responded to and how long does it take to respond. So is there a way that we can track these calls to see exactly what action was taken and if any action has been taken? Thank you.
Mahsi. I can assure the Member that every opportunity I get to meet with the chief commanding officer, those communities without the RCMP detachments, it’s always addressed, improvement into a visit to the communities by RCMP officers and we have done that. But there’s always room for improvement, especially with winter road operation. With Tsiigehtchic, since April of last year until December there’s been visits almost every month, with the exception of November because of freeze-up, and there’s been a DARE program that started at the school in October and it was supposed to be rolled out in January. So those are just some of the examples that the RCMP officers are involved in, in the schools, involved in the community. Definitely there’s more room for improvement, again, for visits, but this has been addressed with the chief commanding officer and I’ll continue to stress that. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister that now there’s a new operational motto that’s in place for policing in small communities, can the Minister assure us that this policy will be distributed, and more importantly, that communities will have input in regard to ensuring that we find improvements in policing in our small communities by enhancing the policy and putting in the adequate resources that are needed to ensure that we do have the policing services that we do require and ensure that they also have the equipment that they need to do their job? Thank you.
Mahsi. This is a foremost priority for our Justice department, whether it be at the national level or the territorial level. At any federal, provincial or territorial Ministers meeting, serving the small communities without RCMP detachments is always on the agenda. I assure the Member that we’ll continue to do that because we’re quite unique in the Northwest Territories versus other provincial jurisdictions and geographically our remoteness, travelling to the communities by charter plane. So, Mr. Speaker, this is a priority for our government, priority for my department as the Justice department to focus on those communities, provide those RCMP services that do not have a detachment. So, Mr. Speaker, that is one of our priorities. Mahsi.
