Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just an opportunity to comment on the Department of Justice and most particularly policing. Not so much in this fiscal year’s budget, but in last year’s budget, in terms of community policing for smaller communities, I am very pleased that the House supported two positions for the community of Fort Simpson dedicated towards a long-term goal of establishing a detachment in the community of Wrigley. The increased patrols are welcome for the community. However, they are still supportive of a full-time detachment.

In the course of the discussion with the RCMP, there is no current capital plan in the federal department to actually build a detachment or have a mobile detachment in the community of Wrigley. They do have patrol cabin type of facilities available, which is commendable. They are doing more frequent visits to the community of Wrigley on a patrol basis, but in the long term. So I’ve taken to lobby our federal counterpart, our Member of Parliament, Mr. Dennis Bevington, to see if we can pursue that federally and at this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he can do the same. You know, establishing that detachment and fulfilling the commitment to get the detachment in the community of Wrigley. With the onset of development, of an increased highway system, of potentially a pipeline, that’s certainly something that will not only benefit Wrigley, but the North as a whole having another point of safety in terms of having RCMP officers at the community of Wrigley. So certainly I seek continued support from our government in pressing that matter and raising it with the federal Minister should our Minister have the opportunity.

Just recently I had a constituency meeting in the community of Fort Simpson. I had a fellow who was concerned about... To him it appears that there seems to be a lack of visibility of RCMP patrols. I think most particularly, if I can bring up a good example, is that several years ago there used to be a foot patrol program in the community of Simpson. I don’t know if it was a territorial-wide initiative, but just that kind of visibility goes a long ways for a community to see our members of our police force in the community interacting, engaging in the community and it goes a long ways towards prevention, I believe. So I do support his point of view. I don’t know why it was stopped, but I don’t know if the Minister can bring it up when he meets with the RCMP, as well, that that’s something that residents appreciated and I don’t know if they can work towards it again or some similar type of program, and the same goes in all the communities that we have detachments in. I think our members being more visible just so they gain the confidence of the community that the members are there caring for our residents and the community. Because when they’re not too visible, then I as an MLA certainly do get lots and lots of comments that you never see the RCMP around. However, they’re there and they’re doing their best, but I still think and I support the residents that a more visible RCMP force goes a long way to garner continued public support.

I just wanted to raise those couple of issues with regard to the Department of Justice, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much.