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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The South Slave may soon be getting a new weapon in the battle against the illegal drug trade.

In the budget currently under consideration by the legislative assembly, the GNWT has allocated $200,000 in annual funding to station a police dog and handler at the Hay River RCMP detachment.

The South Slave will be getting a police dog and handler for the RCMP detachment in Hay River. Above, Lasse, the police dog from Yellowknife, goes on one of many trips around the North. - NNSL file photo

The main task of the dog will be to sniff out illegal drugs coming into the NWT on the highway system.

The idea of a police dog for the South Slave was proposed by Fort Smith Mayor Peter Martselos in 2007.

"I'm extremely pleased," Martselos said of the budget's funding for a police dog and handler.

The mayor said a police dog will play a significant role in combating the drug trade, not only on the highway system, but also at the region's airports.

"It's going to make a huge difference," he said.

Martselos said it is appropriate for the dog to be stationed in Hay River because of its central location, but he also hopes it will also often be in Fort Smith.

"It's going to be wherever it is needed," he said.

In January of last year, Martselos hosted a meeting of South Slave communities and aboriginal organizations with Justice Minister Jackson Lafferty and the RCMP to discuss a police dog for the region. Staff Sgt. Law Power of the RCMP's G Division said it will take some time to train an officer as a handler and to obtain a dog.

"We're in the process of making that happen," Power said, adding the preparation will also include infrastructure such as housing and office space.

"We really don't know what the timeline will be, but the process has commenced to staff that position," he said, adding it is hoped that will happen sometime in the fiscal year beginning April 1. Power said the dog will be available for a number of purposes, including searching for drugs on the highway and at airports and assisting in finding lost persons.

It will "absolutely" be a significant asset for the RCMP in the southern NWT, he said, adding the exact region to be covered by the dog has still to be worked out.

"Any time we have the opportunity to put additional resources into our communities we welcome it wholeheartedly," he said.

G Division will also have to obtain a federal contribution for the new dog and handler, Power said. "We don't see any problem with that."

Policing in the NWT is funded 70 per cent by the territorial government and 30 per cent by Ottawa.

Lafferty said the police dog and handler will be a drug interception team.

"We're hoping it will scare off some drug dealers from the highway and airports," Lafferty said.

The GNWT feels it is important to increase police resources in the North, he added.

Lafferty said, while the dog and handler will be located in Hay River, they will be available to support other detachments throughout the NWT as required.

Currently, there is only one police dog in the NWT. It is stationed in Yellowknife, but serves the whole territory as needed.

That dog has helped communities combat the drug trade, Lafferty said. "It certainly has made a difference."