Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my statement, I profiled in my language a rash of break-and-enter incidents in my community of Fort Providence and how the community is responding to it. One of the groups that has been responding to it is the inter-agency committee. At the same time, recently, there has been a group established called Citizens on Patrol, ensuring that the property and public safety was foremost in the community. My question is to the Minister of Justice. Can the Minister explain to the House what community policing plans are in place, and how are communities involved?
Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community safety and enforcement is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories. In an effort to provide the best policing that we can, all the communities in the NWT have had an opportunity this year to develop policing priorities and action plans with the RCMP. The policing and action plans are developed in partnership with the RCMP and community residents, and are based on the specific needs of each community. The RCMP has developed a policing priorities and action plan with Fort Providence that dealt with or covered three issues that the community determined were the most important: substance abuse; impaired driving; and youth and community involvement.
My second question is to how it is that communities can be involved. I think the Minister has generally outlined that for the community of Fort Providence, but there are other communities in the North that more likely would like to understand and undertake such an exercise. They are trying to bridge the gap between perhaps the RCMP and the community. The question is: how can communities become effectively involved in developing policing plans?
The RCMP have gone out to all of the communities in the Northwest Territories and in developing the action plans, they look at the specific needs of the communities. I understand they have done this in every community, including Fort Providence.
The Minister has indicated that a number of action plans, community policing action plans, were developed. I understand that, at the last count, that the NWT had about 33 communities. How many of those communities have a community policing action plans?
I understand that all of the 33 communities that do have detachments do have action plans. I believe the RCMP is working on those communities that they do not have a detachment in to also have a form of action plan. But I certainly say that every community in which there is a detachment has entered into an action plan with the RCMP, including Fort Providence.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been, of course, lots of discussion in terms of the root of the crime in most communities, and the conclusions of the inter-agency group that has been established to deal with the break-and-enters is that it goes back to residential schools. I am trying to understand and ask the Minister just the scope of the framework of the involvement of the RCMP in the community respecting individual rights. What are the possibilities in terms of developing more linkages, perhaps, with on-the-land programs, and considering, maybe, the move towards healing and wellness in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations and action plan that were tabled at the federal government?
I can advise that policing priorities and action plans are living documents, so that if priorities or concerns change, they can certainly be changed. Also, I know that in Fort Providence there is an active Community Justice Committee Coordinator who runs weekly crime prevention initiatives at the youth centre. They also accept referrals from the RCMP and the Crown to divert youth from the formal justice systems. There is a series of responses to this issue that the police are undertaking, and I understand that there are always problems in moving forward with these, but I understand that the actual rate of crime in the Member's home community is actually in decline, despite ongoing concerns. Actions are being taken. The department as well as the RCMP are always willing to look at new plans, wellness, wellness courts, diversion courts, and so on. Action plans and policing priorities may change, but the police and the department are always open to change.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
