Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first we need to talk about prevention and information on drug use. Youth as young as 12 years old are being targeted.
Can the Minister explain how the RCMP work with health and social services to promote the prevention of illicit drug use in small communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Justice sits on the I believe it's the problematic substance use committee with the Department of Health and Social Services to look at these exact issues that the Member is talking about. The Minister of health has also met with the commanding officer of the RCMP to begin discussions on how they can explore other options for enforcement and prevention in communities. So there is a number of ways that the departments that the RCMP and the department of health are collaborating, along with the Department of Justice. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our Indigenous government have a lot of information and can help the RCMP in the management of illicit drug use. Can the Minister explain how the RCMP advises and works with the Indigenous governments on the management of illicit drug use in small communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Each year I send out letters to the Indigenous governments across the territory to ask what they think the policing priorities should be for the RCMP. As Minister, I provide the RCMP with their policing priorities annually. One of the three priorities relates to drug and alcohol use. So we start right at the very high level. That's how we begin engaging. At the local level, there are you know, the RCMP is always open to meet with Indigenous government leadership. They're willing to meet with elected leaders. You know, when I speak with elected leaders in communities, it always appears to me that they have a good relationship with the RCMP. There's, you know, multiple meetings outside of the formalized meetings. So I think that if there are concerns about those groups not working together, all it takes is a phone call. I know that in the territory here, we you know, we like the RCMP to do what you call community policing, which is going out, getting to know the community, getting to know the leadership, and figuring out how to work in the community as opposed to just coming in and enforce laws. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good information, thank you. Mr. Speaker, we need staff and staff that understands the region they work in. We need a positive and working relationship between the RCMP and the community leaders. Does the Government of the Northwest Territories provide cultural training for RCMP and ensure they are connected with community leadership? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So every time there's an incident anywhere in Canada not every time but when there are incidents in Canada that result in calls for additional RCMP training, it's often happened that that training then becomes mandatory for RCMP officers across the territory or across Canada. So there's actually quite a bit of training that officers are required to do to the point that it affects resourcing levels because we often have so many officers out taking training. So that is from the federal side. And the federal government is responsible for the operations of the RCMP. We do not delve into that; we can't. But the Government of the Northwest Territories does, of course, have our own program that all of the employees of the GNWT are required to take, Living Well Together. And the commanding officer of G Division here in the Northwest Territories has directed all of his staff to take that as well. So that's our contribution in terms of the cultural component. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need collaboration; that is so very important. Can the Minister commit to have the head of the RCMP in Yellowknife meet with the community governments to discuss the illicit drug use in small communities, particularly the crack cocaine and other harmful drugs? Thank you.
Thank you. No, I can't. I don't have the authority to commit to the commanding officer. Our agreement with the Government of Canada is very clear that the GNWT does not direct the operations of the RCMP. However, the community government is more than welcome to reach out to the commanding officer and request a meeting. I know that he's still relatively new to the territory and is trying to get out to the communities and meet with everyone so it could be a good opportunity. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
