Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of Justice surrounding my Member's statement.
The Missing Persons Act is supposed to improve dialogue between the authorities and the families of these missing persons. I don't understand at this time and age how discrimination-like behaviour can be allowed to take place. Is your department aware of the incident between the RCMP member from Fort Smith and Ms. Kalinek and if so, what's being done to rectify the situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister I'm not directly involved in the process within the RCMP. They are at arm's length from us. Having said that, there are a number of initiatives that the RCMP partake in in the Northwest Territories when it comes to, you know, addressing issues and improving the relationships with Indigenous governments and Indigenous people all across the NWT. You know, the commanding officer here at G-division has made mandatory that all of the officers take the GNWT training on cultural awareness. There is an initiative as well at the federal level that's Canada wide that the members take appropriate training. RCMP are also required to take the northern history course, Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity training. And, you know, I think it goes without saying that we need to ensure that the RCMP members are delivering services to the people of the Northwest Territories in a respectful -- culturally respectful and very respectful way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister willing to meet with the superintendent of that G-division and look at how this incident has taken place and what's being done to bring some clarity and some comfort to Ms. Kalinek? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the RCMP are a contracted service to the GNWT and so in my role as Minister of Justice, I would not get involved into HR related matters, if there is an identified issue. However, as the Minister, also part of my responsibilities are to ensure that policing services are delivered in a satisfactory manner. I'm responsible for setting those policing policies which include, you know, building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and certainly understand that we need to establish those relationships. You know, the history of that relationship has not been one that has been very, very good, and I think it's important that as we move forward, we continue to build on that, and I think the commander -- commanding officer has certainly committed to that in his work that he's done and the programs that he's implemented in G-division. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
