Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Justice one of my responsibilities is to set the objectives, priorities and goals of the Territorial Police Service. While the GNWT respects the operational independence of the RCMP, the intention of setting these objectives is to establish a broad strategic direction for the delivery of policing services in the Northwest Territories that incorporates the unique needs of our communities.

Through past priority setting exercises the RCMP have been asked to place a focus on increasing public trust in policing services, working with partners to improve responses to vulnerable populations, being innovative in addressing community safety, and ensuring a culturally-informed, safe approach to service provision.

Mr. Speaker, the annual policing priorities have traditionally been set directly by the Minister. To ensure that I consider the diverse perspectives of the many unique communities in the Northwest Territories, and that this process is undertaken with transparency, I have invited the leadership of Indigenous, municipal, and community governments to share their views with me on what is most important to their community when it comes to community policing services.

As leaders in their respective communities, I know they are best positioned to share this perspective with me. Seeking their input reflects Cabinet’s commitment to support and enhance our relationships with community and Indigenous governments, and to promote community self-sufficiency. Their contributions in this regard will be used to guide the development of the 2020-2021 broad strategic direction that I will set for the RCMP. It is my intention going forward to engage in this outreach on an annual basis.

These priorities help lead the RCMP and community leadership to develop annual Policing Priority Action Plans. This collaborative work supports the building of trust between RCMP members and the communities they serve, and formalized the engagement efforts of RCMP Detachment Commanders across the NWT. The action plans are revisited annually and revised as necessary by the community and the RCMP, recognizing the shared responsibilities in addressing service provision. Through this process, communities have a direct role in making their community safer. I applaud the work that the RCMP and community leadership have accomplished together to enhance the quality of life in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, few services have as direct an impact on our citizens as the policing services provided by the RCMP. Although we are very fortunate to be provided a professional service by a national police force, and by a division dedicated to community policing, it is incredibly important that we ensure that service reflects the unique context of our Territory. The ultimate goal we are all working towards together is safe communities where our citizens can thrive. I look forward to hearing and understanding the insights of community leadership in shaping the Ministerial priorities for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.