Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a heavy heart today I have to ask these questions.
Mr. Speaker, Frank Gruben's been missing for 26 days, last seen in Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to ask my Minister what is the detachment responsible for in the search and rescue of missing Aboriginal peoples? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I know this has come up a few times in the House and, you know, the last time it came up it was a heavy subject and I, you know, expressed my concern and my thoughts with the family, and I'll do the same today. Clearly this is an issue that's touched people across the territory.
So when there is a missing person, the RCMP do look into it. If there is evidence of a crime, then there's a criminal investigation that occurs. If someone is missing and there is no evidence of a crime, it's still an open case, so. I have been in contact with the commanding officer about this. The department is in contact with the RCMP about this because, you know, I'm hearing from a number of different MLAs on this topic. So we are doing our best to convey the concerns to the RCMP. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the investigator at the detachment is responsible for searching for Frank, and is there any expertise that was given and provided to the Fort Smith detachment from Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RCMP don't share those kinds of details about investigations, with myself even. So what I can do is I can try I will reach out again and see what type of information is out there. I will say that it's my understanding that the RCMP are in contact with the family and when there is anything to update to the family with, they do that. But I can get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really want to help my Minister in regards to seeing if what we can do other than, you know, relaying messages back and forth. I'd like to see if the Minister's willing to bring the superintendent of the RCMP to meet with the MLAs in caucus or in AOC, our Regular Members, just to give us an update on what's the protocol and what happens when something like this happens? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I can't bring the commanding officer anywhere; I don't have that authority over the commanding officer. The RCMP are independent from the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are contracted. However, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight can reach out and contact the officer. And, frankly, given the interest from the Regular Members I would expect that they would be doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will bring it forward to the accountability and oversight committee chair to see if we could bring the detachment or superintendent to meet us with in regards to what happens.
Mr. Speaker, there is not even a list of missing people, Aboriginal people across our territory. And that's what I want to bring forward to the Minister today. There's something has to be done to make a list and let people know that's what's happening. And I think we could do a better job in regards to that. I want to help my Minister to make it better for all of us across the territory on our missing and loved ones and bringing them home.
So, Mr. Speaker, again, I'm asking would the Minister invite the superintendent to meet with us other than getting me to go to another committee chair to ask. Can the Minister do that for us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I'm not the chair of AOC. I can't invite someone to attend a meeting that is not my meeting. So, once again, I mean, the Regular Members do have a role in this House. It's not just to stand up and ask questions. They do have power as a standing committee, and they can use that. So I recommend that this discussion, which happens in the House quite often, must be happening up in the Eagle Room of AOC, and so I would recommend that they get together, and they make that request to the commanding officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
