Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - The Conservative government's promise to get tough on crime could address significant Northern policing issues.

Thirteen communities in the Northwest Territories are without RCMP detachments and Yellowknife police would like 10 more officers to create and enhance special units.

Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day outlines Conservative Government plans to get tough on crime. Included in his speech were both prevention and deterrent measures, the latter of which will mean more police officers for the territories. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

Tuesday, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day spoke of his government's two-prong approach to tackling crime. He delivered his address at a camp for kids in foster care outside of Yellowknife.

"The first responsibility of any government is the safety and security of its citizens," said Day.

However, it is the deterrent side of the Conservative's game-plan that could work to address the police shortage in the Northwest Territories.

Earlier this year the Harper government committed $161 million over two-years to add 1,000 additional RCMP officers to the ranks.

Pat McCluskey, commanding officer of "G" Division, said he has submitted a business plan to RCMP headquarters in Ottawa requesting 10 additional federally funded positions for the territories: eight for Yellowknife and two for Inuvik.

An increase in manpower would allow "G" division to establish diamond security and national security teams in the capital, while enhancing the city's drug squad.

The additional two positions in Inuvik, "Would be doing sovereignty patrols and working on the national security team."

Brendan Bell, the GNWT's justice minister, said the territorial government cannot afford permanent detachments in all communities, but would focus on Sachs Harbour, Gameti and Wrigley, which are currently without.

Costs for the uniformed officers to staff these potential detachments would be shared - 30 per cent covered by the GNWT with the difference picked up by Ottawa.

"We've been working closely together with Minister Bell and his department to address this," said McCluskey.

Bell and McCluskey were on hand at Camp Connections Tuesday for Day's $186,000 crime prevention funding announcement for the territories.

The camp is a program designed to provide a summer camp experience to children in foster care; one of three such NWT initiatives the Conservatives provided funding for this year.