Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A couple points. First, I have arranged for the RCMP staff superintendent and the commanding officer to meet with all MLAs tomorrow. This is one area that would be useful for them to discuss, the whole area of recruitment and increasing the number of aboriginal police officers, or police officers of aboriginal descent. The numbers I do see coming from the RCMP as far as recruitment goes, are not bad, actually. Although it is never enough, I am informed that since last April, the RCMP "G" Division has recruited 34 aboriginal people including 13 women and 15 men who are currently in the Aboriginal Cadet Development Program. Two aboriginal men and one aboriginal woman, all of Dene ancestry are currently in training at the RCMP Academy. I wanted to point out that there is activity in that area and efforts by the RCMP to try and deal with the shortage of aboriginal representation in the police force. This has moved forward and I do understand the concern that we have a way to go.

In terms of aboriginal police forces, this is one area which is not my speciality. I would have to find out more about that. If there are groups who are interested in actively pursuing this, who have proposals or plans, I would say, in general, that the Government of the NWT is always interested in listening to what those proposals are and what we can do to assist. Thank you.