Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I want to comment about corrections, community justice and law enforcement. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the initiative the Department of Justice
is undertaking with regard to communities, particularly community justice. But I have a concern about this area. I agree with the initiative. I think it's a good thing and that we're moving in the right direction. My concern is about how this information gets out to the communities and various organizations that would be interested in these types of initiatives.
I say that because, as recently as yesterday, I was in Rae visiting my constituency and I had an opportunity to talk with the municipal administrator. I talked about the initiatives of the department with regard to community justice and law enforcement. He expressed interest, particularly with the law enforcement part of it. When I started to talk about the various initiatives of our government, I notice that it appears that the information about these initiatives is not going out to the appropriate organizations or to the communities.
I'm having problems because once I mentioned the types of initiatives your department is undertaking, there was interest expressed. While I was there, I told them to get in touch with the appropriate people, particularly the community justice person we have out in my area, but they weren't aware of the initiatives. I want to ask the Minister how the department conveys all these new initiatives to the communities and the various organizations within the community, for instance friendship centres, bands, hamlets or interest groups. I have that particular concern.
With regard to law enforcement, Mr. Chairman, I noticed the Minister indicated in his opening remarks that the First Nation's community policing initiative is under way in Good Hope and Lake Harbour, I believe it was. There are going to be pilot projects. I know they initiated these pilot projects and they want to wait until they evaluate them and so forth so that later on down the road, if they're successful, they can use them as models for other communities. But, in the interim, what can the other communities that are waiting do in order to enhance their law enforcement at the community level?
Again, I would like to make reference to the municipality of Rae-Edzo, that is really interested in law enforcement. They are having problems with their by-law enforcement component and the general policing of the community. They have a great interest. I agree with the initiatives they are undertaking. But on a temporary basis, what can the community do to achieve what they want to do at the community level?
Those are my two general questions I would like the Minister to respond to, Mr. Chairman.