In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Justice. I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the holdup on having the RCMP spend the weekend in the community of Tsiigehtchic?
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Initially, there were some concerns about the accommodation. I am happy to say today in the House that we have worked with the NWT Housing Corporation. We’re in the process of installing a two-bedroom portable unit that will allow the RCMP to use it overnight for accommodations for its members who are on patrol in the community of Tsiigehtchic. We expect the installation to be complete and members able to overnight in the community this coming fall.
By the fall, I believe, is too late because by then we’ll have freeze-up. Just this week the ferry just went in in the community.
Why can’t we have this portable trailer in the community starting this summer?
We will do our best to ensure that that accommodation unit is in Tsiigehtchic at the earliest possible time. We’re looking at the fall. But if we can speed that up, we will do that. The RCMP made 21 patrols to Tsiigehtchic between January 1, 2015, and the end of April, and there were 14 calls for service in the community during that time.
We also have issues of nursing, and the department has been working with the community. Every fall and spring they send a nurse into the community to spend – whether it’s breakup or freeze-up – with the community.
Will the Minister work with that department to set up some sort of arrangement like that?
We can certainly have that discussion with the Department of Health and Social Services on coordinating times those services are provided in the community.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
