Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 10/02) - A total of 12 bylaw officers from across Nunavut were in Rankin Inlet earlier this month to undertake bylaw enforcement training.

Course participants learned the proper procedures to enforce hamlet bylaws, effective public communication skills and proper procedures in issuing tickets and fines.

The process leading to the training program initially began with the hamlet of Rankin Inlet.

Senior administrator Ron Roach said the hamlet inquired into the training when its bylaw officer took a six-month leave of absence. The hamlet hired John Wallace Jr. and Warren Kusugak to replace its bylaw officer, both of whom had previous experience working with the RCMP.

"We went to the Department of Community Government and Transportation (CG&T) and said we have two guys here who need bylaw training," said Roach.

"The department e-mailed hamlets across Nunavut to see if any others were interested in the training.

"We were told if we got 12 participants they'd hold the course and that's what they came up with, so CG&T paid the costs associated with the course."

The Department of Justice funds one community constable position annually in hamlets without regular RCMP policing.

However, those hired must have completed a proper training course.

Roach said the bylaw training was the first step towards ensuring a number of Nunavummiut receive the proper training to become community constables.

He said it's expected CG&T will hold training to advance bylaw officers to community constables in about six months.

In Rankin, the hamlet pays a bylaw officer's salary, which is in the neighbourhood of $45,000 plus benefits, even though the officers report directly to the RCMP.

"When preparing this plan, hamlet council decided if our bylaw officers were going to start really enforcing our various bylaws -- we wanted to demonstrate to the community that it's a joint effort between the hamlet and the RCMP.

"It would be unfair for hamlet bylaw officers to be writing all the tickets if they weren't getting support from the RCMP.

"To that end, the RCMP are working with us to help ensure the success of the program."