Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are working with the RCMP to see if we can't increase the number of people from the Northwest Territories who are successful in entering depot and graduating. We'd like to bring them back here. Primarily aboriginal people so that we can have aboriginal people on the ground in communities providing policing services. That is the goal. We have been successful with several candidates. We'd like to see that number up. Of course, as I've indicated, the challenge across the country is enough seats at depot, and this is something the federal government has to talk about with the increased pressure and increased need. We continue to make the case that we want to see our residents trained and successful.

Now, specifically to the question of student financial assistance, that's something that I'm not sure I have an answer for. I can find that out and get back to the Members, though, as to whether or not the RCMP depot is eligible for student financial assistance and we'll try to see what I can do to provide a breakdown of the costs and what is required of a candidate. I know there is a selection process for candidates. We know there's a new intake coming. That process has begun again this February. So we have a number of candidates, but there is an eligibility list that gets established after people meet the screening criteria and those folks are then placed in the program as space becomes available. So we're going to make sure that we do what we can to allow people who are interested to have access to the program and not be limited by the seats at depot that are currently available.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I had heard that the RCMP were even considering an increase or an extra charge to students or cadets that are going through depot. I guess the main thing I'd like to see is, I wouldn't want the financial hurdle to cause residents that are interested in a career with the RCMP to be a barrier. I think access to whatever programs are available, such as SFA, and I'm pretty sure that you can't today access any type of student financial assistance to attend depot in Regina if you're an RCMP cadet. I stand to be corrected, but I'm pretty sure you can't. It's things like that that I believe will help northern people and our residents want to seek out a career with the RCMP and return here to work after they're done their training. So I'd like to see the financial hurdles overcome, or barriers removed for people who want to get into a career with the RCMP. It's a big step. Obviously, it's a six-month time frame to go down there and complete the training. So it's a big obligation for people to undertake, and finances are definitely a concern for a lot of people that are considering a career with the RCMP. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps I could propose in another forum that we would discuss this with the Member. We're not aware of and hadn't really anticipated that there were major financial hurdles for those interested in attending. My understanding was that if they passed the eligibility criteria and the screening, that finances really wouldn't be a limiter for the most part. They are flown from their home community to depot; they do live for free; they aren't paid while they're there, but that's my understanding of the program. So if there are some costs that I'm not aware of, or not taking into account, if the Member could provide me with that in a discussion, I'd be prepared to look at that. So I guess the answer to the question about SFA would be that SFA wouldn't qualify since there aren't those expenses, I don't believe; no tuition that the student would have to pay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a quick follow-up in regard to what my colleague Mr. Yakeleya was saying, but I wouldn't go too deep into that. I think I would just like to maybe reverse a situation around in terms of what we're talking about in terms of policing in small communities, what's more important, a community of 20 people that are concerned about what's going on in their community. It's important to them that they have the presence in the communities because they are afraid if something happens. So if you take a look in terms of what the community needs are, and in terms of what the RCMP are supposed to be doing, I think it's very important that it be considered. I understand your answer before, Mr. Minister, but again, I just hope that we can work very quickly in regard to working with the RCMP and the third party to find a solution very quickly to these communities without police services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

I will make that commitment. We are looking for a solution. The public safety in all of our communities is paramount. We want to make sure that people aren't living in fear. Obviously, it's very helpful to have RCMP on the ground, and I'm sure that the RCMP feel that it's certainly nice to be wanted. They want to know that they're supported in communities; they want to know that they're welcome in those communities. It's important that when we do have RCMP officers located in communities that communities work very well with them, and the effort has to go both ways because it can tend to be adversarial. But I know the RCMP is doing what they can to make sure that their officers have some cultural training and do what they can to meet community members and be involved in community activities, and I know communities will show the officers the welcome and the respect, as well, and I think that that can go a long way toward making sure that we have effective law enforcement on the ground. I share the Member's concern. We do need to see more officers on the ground. We are trying to increase the number of detachments and I agree with the Member that that is very important. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one last follow-up. Like I say, I wouldn't push it any further because he understands where I'm coming from, as well as Mr. Yakeleya. So I'm just wondering if something happens in a community, are we going to take the responsibility for liability? Will we be liable? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Minister Bell.

Mr. Chairman, there are always potential situations, whether it's in communities or outside communities, where a crime could be committed, somebody could be hurt, somebody could be lost and we do our best and the RCMP do their best to make sure that that doesn't happen, and we react as quickly as we can to provide service. We're continually trying to enhance our presence. The addition of the dog and handler we think will have benefits that we haven't really maybe anticipated yet in terms of search and rescue. We know that there have been some recent search and rescue issues in the Northwest Territories. We think this dog could be very helpful in that regard. So what I would say to the Member is that we acknowledge and recognize that there are limitations on what we can do. We can't be everywhere. The RCMP can't anticipate every potential crime, but they are doing what they can to work with people to make sure they're a deterrent to crime. I think the more people see them and the more they have a presence, the more likely we are to see that that will be effective. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one last one here in regard to integrating the new RCMP presence in the communities. Is there a plan in place already where you are doing that, because I know in Tuk they are doing a very good job in Tuk where the RCMP are really associating with local people. So is there a plan in place already for the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Minister Bell.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, there is a plan and this is by design. Members are trying to work as closely as they can with community members. I think you can imagine that it's a much more effective way to provide and ensure the security and safety of community members. We want to make sure that community members trust their officers, because when there are issues that can be potentially headed off, where there are crimes that could be committed that can be avoided because the RCMP know about them in advance, we think those incidences are reduced and we can be much more successful in anticipating these things if community members are comfortable with bringing their concerns forward, and comfortable in engaging in a dialogue with officers. So that is part of the policing strategy and it is by design, and we're hopeful it's going to improve and we do think it is working. Thank you.

Thank you. Just to follow up on this, would the Minister consider the possibility of policing in terms of the discussion paper or time to look at special council and programming in these communities that don't have members? I think you're right. There are 11 plus two, so it makes it 13, where these special constables they may be wildlife officers, they could be bylaw officers in the communities where there is some form of authority the same as the RCMP. So I think there's different ways we could look at it. So I think he's going to have a hard time with the federal government in terms of getting more RCMP in the Northwest Territories. So I think we're looking at something that may be northern made and northern designed for a solution, I guess, Mr. Chair. I have another question after that. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Bell.