Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister of Justice's statement and respect it, but there are gaps in the system. Mr. Speaker, in my 13-plus years in leadership, I have constantly brought up the lack of enforcement in the drug trade in the community of Fort Smith. Members of the community have approached me on numerous occasions over the years and have stated that they have gone to the RCMP with pertinent information about suspected criminal activities taking place in the community but feel that nothing becomes of it.

There has not been a large drug bust in the community in about 20 years. Everybody knows who the drug dealers are. I have spoken about this problem at various Dene leadership meetings and with the present leadership of the RCMP, and there has not been a marked difference or positive results regarding this whole problem. Illegal drugs have inflicted our community and have brought many bearings on many families and must be addressed. The RCMP has a job to do, and as an MLA and leader of this community, I expect them to do their job.

There has been a sign that has gone up and down in Fort Smith and on the Internet, right under the welcome sign, the sign that says, "Welcome to Fort Smith," and this is what the sign says, "Fort Smith jobs wanted: Coke, crack, and meth dealers." The dealers we have are overworked and make too much money. The RCMP are okay with dealers and don't do anything about it. Residents shut their mouths. Apply with the RCMP, and then they give the RCMP phone number, 872-1111.

Mr. Speaker, see this type of signage, especially directly underneath the town's welcome sign is totally unacceptable. This message just underlines my point about the lack of policing enforcement in relation to the illicit drug trade. Even the drug leaders know they can get away with their criminal activities because of the RCMP inaction. Based on the sign, the dealers are literally laughing at the system that is supposed to enforce the rule of law and rein in on their criminal activities. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.