Evidence of meeting #7 for Public Safety and National Security in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Madame Audette, one recommendation is to increase the number of indigenous people in policing. I am thinking of Nunavut as a particular problem.
The recommendation talks about ending the practice of limited-duration posts for police officers. It's difficult in Nunavut. The RCMP have a short duration. We were told they're now down to a six-week duration because they can't get people to go, and there is a lack of trust in the RCMP, so they can't get recruits.
How do you see that working out?
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I think it will always be important to keep the dialogue going to stay current and ready to respond to pressing needs, especially if Inuit leaders are involved in these discussions and offer their solutions for the immediate future. They will point out that the NIMMIWG has proposed some solutions, but they may raise new issues they are facing, such as COVID-19.
I would say that what's most difficult and painful is the retention of the next generation, which sometimes comes from the south to the north. In fact, few people go to the north to make a career. Yet, the people who live there get used to them, trust them, but one day, poof! they're gone. The culture of the north is hardly celebrated, as I have learned from my many travels across Canada. So the question is how to respond to this situation.
Some Inuit communities suggest the concept of Rangers or more community-based policing. These communities need to be honoured and encouraged, and their suggestions should be more broadly implemented if the community is willing.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Mr. Harris.
That brings our time with these two outstanding witnesses to a close.
It was very useful and very informative and, as you can tell from the intensity of the questions from our colleagues, very engaging. With that, thank you again for your time.
Subject to whatever eyebrow-raising my clerk might put towards me, I'm about to adjourn the meeting.
Is that fine, Mr. Clerk? Okay.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.