MLAs question leadership during 'crisis'
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two city MLAs are questioning the silence from elected leaders last week during the hunt for escaped inmate and accused murderer Denecho King.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart said he expects better communication from the government when it comes to a "crisis" like the one that began last Wednesday with the first escape from the North Slave Correctional Centre since it opened in 2004.
"Public safety needs to be a top priority for the government and I'm disappointed in the leadership given. We should have been given more reassurances," Testart said Monday.
Testart said leaders, especially the minister in charge of the department running the jail, should have been reassuring the public the RCMP would capture King and would take measures to quickly address what went wrong.
"I think the public takes more comfort knowing that our decision makers are well informed and standing in strong support of the RCMP," Testart said.
The first statement issued by the GNWT came from a justice department spokesperson five hours after the escape occurred. It said the department would carry out a review of how the escape occurred and examine ways to prevent it in the future.
Justice Minister Louis Sebert was out of the territory to take part in a sports event last week and is expect to return to the territory next week. It wasn't clear exactly when he was informed of the jailbreak.
Cabinet spokesperson Andrew Livingstone stated in an e-mail Tuesday that the minister was told at the "earliest possible time" about the escape. Livingstone stated the minister had every confidence in the ability of the RCMP to find King.
The minister wasn't made available for an interview and Livingstone stated Sebert won't speak until a review of the escape is complete.
Testart isn't the only MLA concerned.
"I was away when this happened but the communication with MLAs and the public could probably be improved significantly," said Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly, who lives near where King was captured.
He wants a full investigation and recommendations into what went wrong and how to improve in the future, including how communications are handled.
If the minister doesn't provide satisfactory information, O'Reilly said the issue will be raised in the legislative assembly when it sits again in the fall.
Testart wants the justice department's report provided to MLAs and asked the minister to address how the escape occurred.
Sources have told Yellowknifer the escape took place while King was with other inmates in a fenced area adjacent to the jail where there is a barbecue, picnic tables and several hand railings. He was seen on the roof before vanishing.
The department has not confirmed or denied the account, stating it awaits the outcome of the investigation.
"The minister really has an obligation to set the record straight," Testart said.
