Okay. Thank you. Can the Minister expand on what this program is that we are talking about? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes. The program that we are seeking expansion on is for the First Nations Policing Program. Perhaps Mr. Goldney could speak to where we are with respect to our efforts, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Deputy Minister Goldney.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Goldney. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In other words, it is just more funding so that we can cover the costs a little bit more; we are not looking at developing a training program or a program for local Indigenous people that may assist the RCMP to do a better job? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Certainly we do encourage our Aboriginal citizens to consider a career in the RCMP, so we are encouraging them from that point of view. As I said earlier, we do need a police force that is reflective of the people that they serve. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am assuming that, no, we are just utilizing the RCMP as they are presently in place. I will go on to another question. Can the Minister please explain how the new cannabis regime affects the RCMP's ability to charge and prosecute drug dealers, given the legal possession limit presently? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Well, the legalization of marijuana, cannabis, was long contemplated, of course, going back to the Le Dain Commission in the 1970s. At least in my community, the great concern about drugs is very little with the so-called soft drugs, but with the harder drugs, which are still illegal to possess and certainly traffic. In many ways, this change, in my view, is actually helpful to the RCMP. They won't be wasting their time with minor possession charges, which, if contested, they would have to prove in the past that it was marijuana and so forth. I would hope that this would free up the police to pursue the real criminals, those that are dealers, particularly in the hard drugs.

The courts clearly treat those matters very seriously, as do the RCMP. As I said, the fact that now the minor charges that used to clog the courts and give people records are no longer before the courts, of course, for possessing small amounts. I would say that this change in the law should actually enhance the ability of the RCMP to pursue the really serious criminals, those dealing in hard drugs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we talked about legalizing cannabis, it was actually to stop the drug trade with cannabis and that there. What I am hearing right now is that we are not going to worry about that now. Is that correct? Is the RCMP able to actually prosecute individuals that are selling cannabis? Right now, it is supposed to be just for our retailers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Yes, of course. Trafficking in cannabis outside of the part that is allowed by the stores and so on is still illegal. There still will be prosecutions. When I talked about the police's time, I was thinking more of those caught with minor amounts who used to have to go to court for possession of small amounts. Clearly that won't be an issue anymore, but my understanding is that those who are dealing in cannabis outside the regulated system, that will still be an offence and subject to prosecution. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Your time has expired, Mr. Thompson. Did you want to go again? Okay. We'll reset. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is: does the department track how many people have been charged and convicted of cannabis sales since the introduction of this new law? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

We don't have that information before us, and I am not aware of any charges or convictions since October 17^th. There may be some. Certainly we could track that kind of information. As I said, the whole point of the change was to remove this product from organized crime, but I do appreciate that there will still be those who break the law and presumably will be prosecuted, even if the drug that they are selling is marijuana or cannabis. There are still laws that presumably will be effective and used against those that are selling illegally. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you. I am just asking: do we have a system in place to track it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.