Public safety is a concern of many residents in the Northwest Territories. This government is addressing this concern through a partnership of governments, police and residents. Today I will highlight some of the innovative partnerships that are working to make our communities safer.
The Department of Justice is working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to improve public safety by enhancing policing services. Working together to identify and meet the RCMP's resource demands has resulted in this government including 12 new officer positions in the 2004-2005 budget.
Six of these officers form a relief unit to ensure policing levels are maintained in smaller communities, and patrols into communities without resident RCMP can be increased. The remaining six positions will be assigned by the RCMP to help meet service demands in Inuvik, Rae, Yellowknife and Hay River. Eleven of these positions have already been filled.
In the city of Yellowknife, a partnership between the government, RCMP and the community is making our streets safer. The Department of Justice funds a dedicated RCMP position to support initiatives like the Community Wellness Committee.
Through this committee, residents are playing an active role in making the community safer. In addition to the citizens on patrol program, which brings extra eyes onto city streets, the RCMP has increased foot patrols in the downtown core. These daily patrols are conducted after school hours and during the evening.
Enhancing policing services is not the only area where innovative partnerships are making our communities safer. In the area of corrections services, community partnerships are helping supervise and reintegrate offenders back into communities.
A new partnership between the Fort McPherson Wellness Committee and the Department of Justice resulted in nine adult offenders successfully completing the first transition program at Tl'oondih lodge this spring. The program included traditional and cultural healing to assist offenders in the transition from the correctional facility back to their home.
As a result of the establishing partnerships for reintegration planning and support workshop held earlier this year, the government has committed to increasing the involvement of community members in developing case management and reintegration plans for young offenders. By involving the community, young offenders will have more support to help them avoid re-offending, making our communities safer.
One of the most successful partnerships has been between the RCMP, Justice Canada, the Department of Justice and communities, to develop alternatives to the justice system through community-based initiatives. The community justice program requires the involvement and support of all partners.
The RCMP and Justice Canada recognize the role communities can play as an alternative to the formal justice system. Communities want to be involved in resolving their own problems in the communities on their own, and the Department of Justice is committed to providing them with support and guidance to do so effectively. This partnership has resulted in the number of community justice activities and diversions exceeding all current targets.
Mr. Speaker, the partnerships I have highlighted today show the progress this government has made towards making our communities safer. They also demonstrate that we all have a role to play. We must be aware of what is happening in our communities and report illegal activity to the RCMP. Our refusal to accept crime, violence or abuse of any kind is the best way to make our communities safer.
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