David Ramsay

Again, I will go back to the department. As far as an investigation goes, I believe there was a report just done by the Auditor General. It has 14 recommendations. We agree with all 14 recommendations. We are taking steps to make improvements in our corrections service, and we will continue on that path with our accountability framework.

I continue to work with the senior management at the department, the deputy minister. I take the concerns highlighted by the Auditor General’s report very seriously, and as Members know, I’ve been here for going into my 12th year. I’ve had questions in the past regarding the corrections service here in the Northwest Territories. It is my objective here to make things better, to action these recommendations, and I certainly am intent on doing just that.

As far as the Member’s questions and concerns, I will have that discussion with the deputy minister and we’ll take things from there. Thank you.

Of course, I take the safety of our community very seriously. I will continue to work with the RCMP to ensure that communities across the Northwest Territories are as safe as they possibly can be.

The Member brings up a good point in trying to get the elders involved in the communities and the RCMP. This is something I’d like to take back to the RCMP. Of course, they are our partner in this, the Department of Justice, the RCMP and the communities, and we will get a response for the Member. I like his idea. Any way that we can encourage young people to get involved in the RCMP and protecting our communities and making them safe, that’s a good step in the right direction. I thank the Member for his suggestion.

It is very important that the RCMP continue to foster a strong working relationship with communities across the Northwest Territories. We’ve done a great deal of work in that regard helping communities establish policing plans, working with communities, the leadership of communities. We’re also moving into community safety plans now across the Northwest Territories, and again working with leaders and community members. We’re going to arrive at that. Through the Community Constable Program we will get constables into communities in the Northwest Territories that are going to provide the RCMP...

I mentioned it earlier, I’ll say it again, I will go back and have a discussion with the RCMP. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RCMP are professionals, they’re experts in their field, and at the end of the day, it’s their decision about notifying the public. They work with the public prosecution service. But if the Member wants me to have a discussion with the RCMP, I will certainly go back and have a discussion with the RCMP. Thank you.

Whether the Member likes it or not, it is the responsibility of the RCMP. We will continue to work with the RCMP to ensure our communities are safe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a line that, of course, the RCMP makes the decision on. They have to weigh a number of factors before they consider notifying the public. Perhaps we could engage the RCMP if Members want a briefing on how this works. I’d be happy to have the RCMP sit down with the Standing Committee on Social Programs and we can go over the hows and whys of public notification.

The RCMP has recently filled its Aboriginal proactive recruiter position. The recruiter will be travelling throughout the Northwest Territories to actively recruit persons for all categories of jobs and positions with the RCMP. If the Member is aware of any people in his communities that are interested in the Community Constable Program, I’d encourage him to have them contact the RCMP or our new Aboriginal proactive recruiter so that they can hopefully get into the program this coming June. Thank you.