Chris Hunsley
Northern News Services

Inuvik (July 29/05) - More federal resources are needed if the RCMP is going to stem the flow of drugs to the North and combat the country's highest crime rate, Canada's top cop said last week.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli said the force would collaborate with organizations across the territories to attack the problem.

Southern detachments have also been enlisted in the fight against drugs.

"We need to concentrate, not on what we don't have but what we do have," said Zaccardelli.

"We will never have all the resources that we need, nobody ever does."

The commissioner said the Mackenzie Gas Project would not catch police off guard.

Adequate manpower will be in place to ensure safe and healthy communities, he said, noting that this includes ensuring the safety of workers at small, remote camps.

"These major projects are not something we're unaccustomed to," he said.

Zaccardelli met with Premier Joe Handley, Justice minister Brendan Bell and other community leaders to discuss various policing issues while on his tour.

Wreath-laying ceremonies were held at gravesites on Herschel Island and in Colville Lake, along with the official opening of a new detachment in Paulatuk.

"It was a bit of a fact-finding mission and public relations trip to make sure he's in tune with the needs in the territory," said "G" Division Staff Sgt. Don Halina. The commissioner also commented on allegations that the RCMP deliberately slaughtered sled dogs in the 1950s. Zaccardelli said the information available to date does not back up the claims, which were made by Inuit elders.

"From everything we have seen, there is no indication of a systemic approach to eliminate dogs from the communities," he said, emphasizing that the report was not yet concluded.

Currently, it's not possible to have permanent officers stationed in every community, said Zaccardelli.

"To deploy resources as effectively and efficiently

as possible, unfortunately means we can't have a presence everywhere."

The RCMP has put a proposal to the GNWT requesting more funds to increase police presence.