Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my communities urgently need more RCMP members. Up to 40 percent of positions in the North are unfilled, and a higher turnover disrupts relationships with the local law enforcement partners. With the federal government recently announcing 1,000 new RCMP hires nationwide, my question is to the justice Minister what are you doing with the federal colleagues to bring more RCMP north to the Northwest Territories and to the small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member stated, you know, vacancy rate in the Northwest Territories in the RCMP, we are unfortunately number one in the country with the 22.9 percent unfilled position rate currently. And, you know, this has certainly posed a huge challenge for many of our detachments across the NWT. Fortunately, we have been able to address this challenge through the -- we've managed to get 18 relief members from across Canada have been brought in to provide temporary support to our communities, which has been very much appreciated, and we are working on the recruitment and retention as one of our key priorities, and the department continues to work closely with the RCMP to support solutions for sustainability and service delivery. And we have dedicated $200,000 in funding toward recruitment in the upcoming budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our communities are in the best position to identify how to enhance public safety with the RCMP. Will the Minister work with the RCMP and federal Government of Canada to ensure consultation with Indigenous leadership before renewing or modifying any RCMP contracts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we currently -- G-division and the commander currently has an Indigenous advisory committee that he meets with twice annually and part of that meeting and consultation process is to receive advice from those Indigenous leaders and participants from across the territory which are recommended and appointed by regional Indigenous governments and organizations across the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The TRC and MMIWG Calls for Justice call for Indigenous people to have greater authority over policing in their communities, and these principles are reinforced by UNDRIP. Can the Minister update this House on what steps the GNWT's taking to integrate these rights and Calls to Action into policing, especially when Indigenous governments pointed out gaps in the public safety? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is a little bit more involved and detailed and will require some additional work. So what I am prepared to do today is commit to the Member that I will reach out to the other departments, EIA and other departments, etcetera, have my department do that, and provide a response back to the Member on this question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
