Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for Justice. Mr. Speaker, we don’t have enough police resources in our community. As I said in my Member’s statement, our numbers have diminished in the last 25 years -- we’re going backwards -- and yet the demands on our police resources have increased. The projected future looks like there will be more increase with resource development and a lot of other development on the horizon. So the demands are growing and the resources are diminishing. Hay River is the second largest community in the Northwest Territories. We don’t have 24-hour RCMP coverage except to call a member back who’s off duty who’s on call. We don’t have a local 24-hour communication centre. The RCMP is an institution which I recognize is under pressure in the area of recruitment and retention, as well; however, the demand in the communities demands a response from this government. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if this government has contemplated, or would contemplate, the reinstitution of something like the Special Constable RCMP Program that used to exist in years past? I think that one of the benefits of that would be that you would have people who consistently live in the community. The RCMP are transferred into the community; they have to get familiar with it, but just about the time that they get to know people and the lay of the land, it’s time to transfer someplace else. I think a local resident NWT Special Constable Program would be a great underpinning and support to local RCMP members. I’d like to know what the government thinks of that idea. Thank you.
Jane Groenewegen on Question 35-16(1): Policing Resources In Communities
In the Legislative Assembly on November 28th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Question 35-16(1): Policing Resources In Communities
Item 7: Oral Questions
November 27th, 2007
See context to find out what was said next.