Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. This particular subject, the two detachments that we’ve committed and we continue
to commit ourselves to as the GNWT, we provide policing already to Wrigley and Gameti, policing out of Simpson. To deal with Wrigley and Gameti is based out of Yellowknife, working closely with Behchoko detachment.
When it comes to a detachment, of course it’s a federal responsibility. At the same time I did address that with two federal Ministers last week -- Minister of Justice and Minister of Public Safety -- the importance and how critical it is to have these two detachments as they’ve been slated for 2011. We want to proceed further. We want to follow through with it. We informed the two Ministers that we’re already providing policing services but the detachment is still an obstacle in a way. Could the federal department fulfill their obligation?
I’ve got a lot of support from the small jurisdictions, as well, northern jurisdictions of the provinces. Our two territorial counterparts, Nunavut and Yukon, are very supportive as well. This is an area that we’ll continue to follow through.
We’re just drafting up a letter to Minister Vic Toews, Public Safety, and follow through with what we’ve discussed last week and with my two territorial counterparts. We’re going to meet with them and discuss further the importance of having these two on the budget that was highlighted.
We are also, just for Members’ information, looking at other options as well. We’re waiting for the federal, but what can we do in the meantime? Those are options we are working on with the communities and we’ll continue to do so.
I will be going to the Member’s riding. We’re still working on the dates, I believe in December. Those are the areas we’ll continue to stress, and we’re very passionate about that as the territorial government. The federal government is still discussing that.