Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

This is page numbers 1951 – 2010 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Update On Early Childhood Development Plan: Education, Culture And Employment Milestone Statement

Enbridge Pipeline Erosion Control Measures

Support For Terrax Minerals Inc.

Improving Consumer Protection

Hay River Rental Accommodation Challenges

Benefits Of Public Service Growth In The Sahtu Region

Yellowknife Rental Accommodation Costs

Resident Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Modern Treaty Implementation

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Emergency Situation Communication Protocols

Yellowknife And Peripheral Area Land Use Management Plan

GNWT Land Use Monitoring Capacity

Sugar Tax Best Practices

Improving Consumer Protection

Rental Office Workload Challenges

Rental Accommodation Subsidies

Land Lease Assessments

Residential Mental Health Worker For Tsiigehtchic

Social Housing Policy Adjustments

Written Question 21-18(2): Complaints Of Sexual Assault Classified By RCMP As Unfounded

Tabled Document 302-18(2): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission 2015-2017 Strategic Plan

Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 28, 2017

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Lands

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Community Justice And Policing Activity

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 64-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Lands, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Lands, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matter

Louis Sebert Thebacha

I understand the manner in which these agreements are developed is that the RCMP meet with the local community. So it's not a question of us giving direction; this is an RCMP initiative. They meet with the community, develop a policing plan that's suitable for the individual community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. I want to give an example. So we all know that family violence rates, meaning assault and sexual assault in intimate partnerships, are at high levels. So how would a goal like working more closely on prevention work in this kind of a situation, or is that not a level of detail that these plans go into? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, if I might have the deputy minister respond?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and just to pick up on the example that the Member used, I think is a good example where we might not necessarily see a large RCMP response to the issue of prevention given that they're there to respond to criminal activities as those needs arise. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I recognize that the example I gave was not a very good example, so let's take something like the ODARA Score that is used to assess domestic violence incidents for their intensity, shall we say. Is that the kind of thing that gets factored into these policing plans? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

I'm certain that it would be on that level. I think the ODARA Score, which was developed in Ontario I believe, now is accepted generally by police and courts as a way of evaluating risk in domestic violent situations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So would a goal like promoting the use of the ODARA Score tool, would that be part of a territory-wide policing priority? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister. I apologize, Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly it's a tool recognized and would be used in risk assessments, as there might be some police involvement required for those types of assessments. We do see that tool being used perhaps more frequently in other responses to this issue beyond the criminal justice system response, the social response to this issue which involves other aspects and other programs outside of policing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Goldney. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for that response. So where I'm going with this is: how does the Minister of Justice set up accountability by the police? How are the police accountable for their policing priorities and for the implementation of those priorities to the Department of Justice? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Well, Mr. Chair, I do meet with the commanding officer of the RCMP on occasion or when required, so we can discuss priorities at that time. Of course, the RCMP is independent of the government, so I do not direct them to do certain things. Certainly they consult with us and seek our input. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So to give this idea an example to make it more tangible, what was the process that ended with government support for the Child Exploitation Unit? How does an issue like that get inserted into policing priorities and the relationship between the police and the government? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you. This has been a priority for some time. What happened in the past, though, because this is a very specialized area involving complex warrants, complex evidence and difficult court cases often we had to bring in RCMP from other jurisdictions which is incredibly expensive and inefficient. So what was decided by the RCMP is that they would set up their own unit here to respond to this complex and serious situation. Perhaps I could ask the deputy minister to expand on that. Thank you.

February 23rd, 2017

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Goldney.

Goldney

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just further to the Minister's response, we do engage with the RCMP as we administer the contract, and, quite often, the RCMP will identify internal pressures or national trends that require that we look at ways of addressing them in the territories, as well. Those conversations are usually quite useful and do allow that two-way conversation about how RCMP direction of their resources lines up with the needs of the territory. On that example, there was complete alignment, so it was a very easy discussion, where we were able to say we do support that initiative and will seek additional resources to make that happen. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017

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