Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. Like before me, Mr. Fredrick Blake, before him was Mr. David Krutko, before him was Mr. Richard Nerysoo. They all lobbied for the services of Tsiigehtchic to get health services and police RCMP services for the community of Tsiigehtchic because they're on the highway system. They're easy access to drugs and alcohol and other crime. My question is will the Premier commit to start and continue the process of trying to get these services to Tsiigehtchic as soon as possible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaking as the Minister of Justice, I can tell the Members that the conversations about resourcing in the Northwest Territories for RCMP are ongoing. There's always conversations happening. The RCMP are looking at their workload and bringing forward proposals to the GNWT. So that's always happening.
In the Member's region, we've added, I believe, RCMP every year since I've been Minister. So we have been increasing the number of RCMP in the territory, including at Fort McPherson, and that is the community that serves Tsiigehtchic. So while it's not a perfect situation and I understand that it's still, you know, a 45minute drive if everything goes well from McPherson to Tsiigehtchic, hopefully that additional officer in McPherson will help free up other members and so they can respond more quickly. But we are continuing to work with the RCMP. Where they see the operational need being the greatest, that's where we look to add resources. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take note to the Minister's response. I don't think that is satisfactory to the residents of Tsiigehtchic. That's making more reference to the community of Fort McPherson.
My question is will the Minister engage with his federal counterparts and local Indigenous governments to find a process where we can find services for the community of Tsiigehtchic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And like I said, we're always having those conversations. The RCMP, they are a federal entity, but they are contracted by the GNWT, and so an increase in service in one area is it goes through the GNWT, so. And I think that if we work for the RCMP and we wanted additional officers in there, that's what was deemed necessary, then we could do that without the federal government. But I'm always having conversations with Indigenous leaders and communities about justice, access to justice, drugs, and the RCMP, and I'm happy to continue those.
I'm sorry, I don't have a better answer for the Member. I know that, as he mentioned, this has been ongoing through many, many MLAs, many who have served multiple terms, and so this is not a new issue. But and I'm you know, I feel for some of the stories I've heard the Member tell and others tell about a lack of services in Tsiigehtchic and what that results in, and it is concerning, and we do continue to try and provide services in the best way that we can knowing that we don't have unlimited resources. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the new polytechnical university being proposed in the future, would there be in partnership with the education department, will they be able to implement some paramedic courses or some special constable or security courses to be implemented into this polytechnical university to help alleviate some of these problems within Tsiigehtchic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so as was mentioned earlier, the polytechnic or the Aurora College is now arm's length, and it is governed by a board. That being said, if there is a case for a program and there's money attached to it, then the college can always look at delivering that if we have a funder. I will note that the RCMP, they do try to recruit Northerners. They have a program, a threeweek program in Regina, at depot, where Indigenous potential recruits can go for three weeks to see what they think of the program. Right now, there is I believe there is a few residents in the territory who are looking at attending that. There's a couple residents who are in depot training to be RCMP officers. There's a few more who are partway through that process of making their way to depot, and there's another half dozen who are at the beginning of that process. So there are opportunities for Northerners to train to be RCMP officers, and the RCMP proactively go out and hold information sessions and try and do outreach to let people know about those. And so, yes, there is a possibility at the polytechnic. That's something that could happen. But in the meantime, there are efforts underway to train Northerners to be RCMP officers, and I encourage all the MLAs to let their constituents know that is an option for people in the territory. I'm getting the wrap it up sign, so I'll stop it there. Thank you.
Final supplementary. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
