Public Safety Committee on Oct. 16th, 2018

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

I understand very well the importance of relationships, but I think it would serve the committee very well if you had particular examples of programs that you've come across. I know you served as mayor in La Loche—

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

Again, in my presentation—

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

Is there anything that you could suggest that the committee could learn from—

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

Again, in my presentation I've alluded to a few—the community safety officer, the peacekeeper positions in various communities—

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

Why have they been so effective? I guess that's what I'm driving at.

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

Again, resources to communities to allow.... Without a resource.... For example, you're a member of Parliament. If you were not getting paid, would you do your work? It's the same thing.

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

I'm glad to be getting paid, yes.

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

Would you allow...? How many volunteer hours can you provide to do this piece? You still need to have a job to carry on, to pay your bills.

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

I just wanted to know more about what these programs are all about and how they function.

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

I would consult with the RCMP and municipal police forces because that's where they would have the information.

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

Okay. I see I'm at five minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You are at five minutes.

We started a little late, so I'm going to allow one more round of questions. Then, before we suspend, we have a couple of pieces of committee business. I'll invite Ms. Jolibois to leave, and then we have the RCMP.

Do you have no questions?

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

I have no questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Go ahead, Mr. McKinnon.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Yes, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have five minutes.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

You spoke of the need for equal law enforcement access across Canada from coast to coast to coast, and I think this builds on what Mr. Eglinski was saying. What does that look like?

Law enforcement, I think, will need to be different in rural areas and rural communities than it is in urban environments. The communities are smaller and the people are more widespread in where they live. The cost of policing is quite different. What kind of benchmarks are you looking for to say that we have equal access to law enforcement in your communities, let's say, or various places in your riding, as compared to somewhere else in Canada?

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

It's based on my experiences and my understanding, and this is why I say all Canadians should and must have equal access to the RCMP or a municipal police force.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

But what does that mean?

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

If a criminal activity occurring, they go through the same process under what the law is. Again, they look at the officer investigating, but then they look at whether there is support for victim services, for victims of crime. What kind of support is there at the community level? Again, it's community-based programs.

In the city—

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

So you're not talking about response times—

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

The way I understand it is the way I'm—

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I've heard these answers already from you.

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

I'm reiterating my answers and clarifying, because I feel that there's not an understanding of the reality on the ground.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I don't think that's the problem. I guess we're just looking for some clarity around specifically what you're looking for.