I am sorry, Mr. Chairman, that would be to the federal Minister of Justice.
Debates of Feb. 18th, 1998
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Cooper
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples report there were recommendations on justice matters in relation to aboriginal people and how they have been dealt with. Have you looked at the recommendations as to how it can be implemented in the north in forming aboriginal committees, in relation to justice issues and such as that? Have you looked at the recommendations from the Royal Commission on justice matters and how they can be implemented in the Northwest Territories?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Here again is a situation where the Department of Justice does have some involvement in looking at the RCAP report and also looking at the federal response to the RCAP report and putting together the GNWT's view. The Department of Justice does not have a lead role in that. The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, once again, has the lead role in providing a response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples report.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Directorate, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $3.801 million. Agreed?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a committee motion under activity summary, law enforcement, page 7-7.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a committee motion under activity summary, law enforcement, page 7-7.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the department formulate, in concert with the RCMP and the Interim Commissioner's office, a strategic plan for policing in the Western Territory and Nunavut. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Law enforcement, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $28.015 million. Mr. Krutko.
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the First Nations Community Policing Program, a lot of reserves down south have their own police enforcement. For a lot of the communities where the RCMP does not have enough manpower to do an adequate job, a lot of times, the municipalities want to take on more responsibilities, especially with regard to using by-law officers, et cetera. They are restricted in the type of power that they have. A lot of aboriginal groups are considering looking at the whole area of policing and enforcement, especially when it comes to controlling items in communities such as prohibition and enforcing different by-laws where the RCMP does not have the manpower. They would like to have someone who can take on these responsibilities and eventually look at the whole area of having their own police force within aboriginal communities.
I would like to ask the Minister, in light of the federal government, since this is a cost-sharing arrangement, the possibility of meeting with aboriginal groups and organizations to see how they can play a more active role with regard to aboriginal policing in the Northwest Territories? There were only two communities identified. There are a lot of other communities that would like to have the opportunity to consider having their own policing. Could the Minister tell me exactly what is being done to enhance this program, so it can help more communities than just the two that were used as pilot projects?
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
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.
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Regarding the pilot project that took place in Fort Good Hope, Coral Harbour, places like Tsiigehtchic, the community I represent; they do not have RCMP or nurses located in the community. They do want to have someone located in their communities, but they are always told they do not have the resources or the avenues to get these funds. This project could be one way that the charter community of Tsiigehtchic can look at possibly identifying someone within their community to train as a community constable who can work with the RCMP in Fort McPherson or Inuvik and allow someone to be trained in the community to take on a similar arrangement like a pilot project that was in Fort Good Hope. What are the chances of something like this happening in the community of Tsiigehtchic where they do not have a police officer at the present time?
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The information provided to us by the RCMP indicates that out of 32 communities this program is eligible for 22 have signed memorandums of understanding with the RCMP for the Community Constable Program. Although, I did indicate earlier, this is somewhat different from the pilot project for Fort Good Hope and Coral Harbour. However, 22 out of 32 communities have signed the MOUs, including, as I understand it, Tsiigehtchic. The other community that the Member referred to, Fort McPherson, according to the latest information we have from the RCMP, said they were not interested at the time.
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 922
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Did you mention that out of the 22 groups that were consulted, Tsiigehtchic asked for such a program?
Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(5): Recommendation To Formulate A Strategic Plan For Policing In The Western Territory And Nunavut
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. They are included in the 22 out of 32 communities that have completed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the RCMP for the Community Constable Program.