Madam Speaker, the RCMP are conducting a study, as I said last week, about the challenge of policing in the Northwest Territories, with division in 1999 and with continued cutbacks from the federal government. One of the concerns that was introduced to Members in Caucus this

morning was the escalating concern of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories about the health and safety of their members. The number of violent incidents directed at members of the RCMP and their families in the north have escalated in the last few years and, as a result, the RCMP are conducting a study. The RCMP may find it imperative to suggest that there be no more one-man detachments if they find that they cannot ensure an adequate level of safety for their members, as a result of growing violence directed at members in the communities.

It is difficult to respond to specific suggestions like an auxiliary police force at this time, since there are no specific suggestions made by communities at this time. There are always associated costs and I'm not certain that it would be any more economical to do. But, having said that, there is no implication that such a suggestion, if made, will be ruled out. We are simply not looking at such a suggestion at this time. Thank you.