Thank you, Madam Chair. There are a number of different programs currently provided by the RCMP. There’s the
Aboriginal Community Constable Program. In the Northwest Territories we have one person who has successfully completed that program. There’s an intake, I believe it just ended actually, for two more positions here in the Northwest Territories. We had a large number of candidates, which I think is fantastic. I’ve made statements in the House about that program, and I’ve encouraged Members to work with their communities to identify people. I know that we’ve got lots of candidates and we’ve got people, I believe, that have been identified for those two positions. Training starts in June for those two positions.
The RCMP also run a youth cadet-type program, and I actually forget the title of the program right now, but it’s for young people who are interested in pursuing RCMP as a career. There are limited seats in that, and in the Northwest Territories the RCMP do a pretty good job of advertising that program. I made a statement here in the House and I encouraged Members to submit names. We had one person go through that program here in the Northwest Territories last year, a young individual from Inuvik. We’ve heard that it was quite successful. The person really appreciated their experience and the opportunities, and we’re hoping that we’ll see that person in the RCMP someday. Who knows, but that’s certainly a hope.
The RCMP continues to recruit. They continue to look for members. We look for any opportunity we can to enhance Northerners in policing.