Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the violence and the rise of drugs in small communities and throughout the Northwest Territories. We know the most important -- or the most often drug are transported in the NWT by road from the provinces. Fort Resolution is just a hundred kilometers from Hay River. N'dilo, Dettah is right next door to the city of Yellowknife. And Lutselk'e is just down the road.
Mr. Speaker, as the drug trade, assault, crimes and violence increase, for example in Hay River, we see the same trend in Fort Resolution and throughout the NWT. Assault, possession of firearms, and drug trafficking are becoming more common occurrences in small communities and in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, monthly police reports for the community of Hay River shows mischief and assault are very common. Since December 2022, there have been an average of 53 calls a month related to mischief, over 1.5 calls every single day in Hay River related to mischief. During the same time, there were nearly 7.5 calls about assault per month.
Mr. Speaker, almost two assaults are being reported to the RCMP every single week in Hay River. For one example, we have 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, and this is out of control. In December 2022, there were three drug-related trafficking occurrences. In April 2024, this number jumped to 16.
Mr. Speaker, this is four drug trafficking occurrences happening every week. Before the evacuation last summer, there were 16 reported theft under $5,000 in June. This jumped to 21 thefts under 5,000 in October. The police states that there -- since the return of the evacuation, there has been an occurrence of a property crime, which is suspected to be linked to the illicit drug trade.
For residents in the South Slave region and throughout the NWT, it is beginning to feel like the drug trade is out of control. Where are these drugs travelling? We see more drugs and weapons like brass knuckles being used in small communities in the NWT. This is why today I bring forward a motion, second by the Member from the Deh Cho. I also bring in issue to the social development committee as an issue for my riding and residents in NWT.
This issue should be brought up with the Minister of Justice in the social development committee and to ask the question today to restore the K-9 unit in Hay River. This unit to exist is a tool that the police enforcement can use to transport them to dismantle the drug trade in small communities in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, in the 20th Assembly, we put forward four priorities. The fourth priority is safe residents and communities. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, we need to protect our residents in the NWT and do whatever we can so our communities, and especially our elders and vulnerable children, feel safe and want to remain in small communities. This is why I bring forward this motion today, Mr. Speaker.
And, Mr. Speaker, we are all impacted by the drug trade here in the Northwest Territories, especially in the small communities. I get calls daily from residents very frustrated. And at the same time, the RCMP's hands are tied because of policies. And right now as it is, I've experienced calls from young people that are looking at how to get out of it, and sometimes there's just no help.
So, Mr. Speaker, as a former leader in my community, the drug trade is alive and well. It's running rampant throughout the Northwest Territories. And as my colleague mentioned earlier from Monfwi is that it's out of control. And we got to figure out a way how we could give the tools needed to the RCMP to combat this issue. And this is just the beginning. I don't expect this thing to happen overnight, but I think if we are able to start looking for solutions, this is one of them. So, Mr. Speaker, I will introduce this motion today, and I ask for the Members' support on this. Mahsi.