Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (June 10/02) - The two-year residency requirement for Nunavut newcomers should be lifted for police officers, says a Cambridge Bay police officer.

"Hunting is traditional, it is the way of the people," said Sgt. Gary Peck, a seven-year veteran of the RCMP in Nunavut. "It creates bonds and it makes it a lot easier to become accepted in the community."

Joe Tigullaraq, senior government adviser for policy for the development of the Nunavut Wildlife Act, said the Department of Sustainable Development is waiting for results from recent consultations on the issue.

"The department does not have a position on this," said Tigullaraq. "We have spoken to all 25 communities in Nunavut but I cannot comment on that."

Tigullaraq said results from this past April's consultation on the Wildlife Act will be released by the end of the summer.

"The department does not have a stand on the issue, it will depend on the consultations," said Tigullaraq.

Peck believes lifting the restriction for police officers will go along way.

"These guys are coming up from the South for the long haul," said Peck.

Usually RCMP officers spend four years of police duty in Nunavut in two-year cycles through the communities.

"To miss two years going out with the guys on the land -- it's a loss," said Peck.

Peck said this view is held by the RCMP in general across the territory.