Public Safety Committee on Oct. 16th, 2018

[Jim Eglinski]

If they are working with the police officer, are you saying, then, that every community should have a police officer there? That's what you're saying in a roundabout way.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Again, it's the structure of the RCMP. That would be a question for the RCMP and the federal government, the way the structure is set up across Canada. It's a systematic structure in place. No matter what I say and suggest, I'm just one voice, just as you are, and again, the way the structures are set up is a bigger question, and a bigger discussion needs to occur.

[Jim Eglinski]

You have no rationale, then, for how we could do it to make it better in the way you want it.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Again, look at the way the structures are set up and have those discussions among yourselves.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Eglinski.

I take note that you seem to be making reference to Statistics Canada information. Is that correct?

[Jim Eglinski]

Yes, that is correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I would assume that colleagues would all benefit from the availability of that material.

[Jim Eglinski]

It's in my notes. I assume it's in their notes, or I was hoping so.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I think it's from the Library of Parliament.

Could I ask the analyst to...?

Okay, it was done, and colleagues got it.

[Jim Eglinski]

It's Police Resources in Canada, dated 2017, with release date March 28, 2018.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I just wanted to make sure that the committee was aware of what you were reporting.

[Jim Eglinski]

The data is all in there.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Fragiskatos, welcome back to the committee.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

It's great to be back.

Thank you very much, Ms. Jolibois, for your presentation.

In any study of rural crime, I think it's natural that we discuss approaches to dealing with rural crime, and you have put some ideas on the table. I want to ask you this, however, because you're from Saskatchewan.

In the latter days of his term as premier, Brad Wall formed a caucus committee to study matters relating to this issue, matters relating to rural crime in Saskatchewan. They were tasked with making recommendations.

The recommendations they came back with are classic tough-on-crime approaches—for example, stronger penalties for young offenders and an increase in license plate recognition systems.

This differed dramatically from what the caucus committee heard from, for example, the Federation of Indigenous Sovereign Nations, which suggested, for example, that the way to deal with rural crime is to put in place community justice programs.

You focused a little bit on that in your testimony today, but to be more specific, the federation was talking about the expansion of anti-gang crime prevention programs for youth. Where you have seen such programs put into place in Saskatchewan, can you talk about your thoughts on them and how effective they have been in mitigating the chance for young people to turn to crime, and offer any thoughts on those matters?

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I'm curious, as you were describing your question and laying it out, to know who is committing the crime? Is the committee or are others implying that one group is doing...?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I'm not implying anything. I'm just asking you what your thoughts on—

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I just want to be clear on that, because the way the questions get laid out—

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

No, I'm not implying—

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Again, a criminal activity is a criminal activity, from organized crime to various criminal activities that go on.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

No, let me be clear—

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Okay, thank you.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I'll be clear that I am not talking about one particular group carrying out crime. I'm talking about your experience in observing programs for youth. It could be anti-gang programs. It could be any crime prevention programs or anything you've seen that differs from a tough-on-crime agenda that you think would be effective in preventing young people in particular from turning to crime. I'm not just talking about indigenous youth; I'm talking about all youth.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Okay.

Again—

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I'm asking for specific examples of programs in particular locations.

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Again, I don't want to talk about specific programs, because the way the funding structure plays, for a pilot project in some place in northern Saskatchewan or a pilot project in Quebec or some other part in Canada, there is one initiative, and then they have to look at whether the funding sources will be made available throughout Canada for other communities to participate.

The experiences I have learned from in being involved with the aboriginal advisory committee again stress building relationships. I think the idea of “relationship” is being misunderstood. If I know who the staff sergeant is in a detachment, then if I witness an incident, I'd rather talk to the staff sergeant and get an answer from them, because it requires attention.