Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Justice provide any measurable data or evidence that demonstrates a positive benefit to the people of the Northwest Territories in relation to the increasing costs of policing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the data at my fingertips. I'd be happy to get back to the Member with that information. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the government of the Yukon conducting a review of the Yukon police force. That review produced a final report, along with several recommendations for improving oversight to the RCMP and building trust with the public. The NWT could learn a thing or two from that work.
Has the Minister or the Justice department ever looked at the Yukon's police force review, and if so, have any of these recommendations been considered for the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I haven't read the report but when the Member brought it to my attention, I did have a brief look at it. The department is aware of the report, and one of the things about having a national body like the RCMP is that all jurisdictions share information and so the NWT does work especially closely with the Yukon and Nunavut. So that information is shared between the jurisdictions as well. So there is definitely an awareness of that report and its findings. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if he or the Department of Justice has ever considered conducting a review of the NWT police force like what has been done in the Yukon? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've just initiated that review. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, in 1999, the Yukon government created the Commanding Officer's (Yukon) First Nation Advisory Committee. It was created to foster a healthy and positive relationship between First Nations and the RCMP. That committee meets twice a year.
Has the Department of Justice ever considered or attempted to work with the Indigenous groups in the NWT to create a similar committee for the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The commanding officer of Gdivision also has an Indigenous advisory committee, and they meet biannually. It's made up of community members and elders.
Of course, people may remember the RCMP is also working with the Dene Nation on an innovative program that is well underway, that was announced last year. And the GNWT, the RCMP, and Salt River First Nation are working together to address some of the outstanding issues out of that jurisdiction. So there's lots of work underway. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
