Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services
Monday, April 23, 2007

PANGNIRTUNG - The Dialla family is no closer to recovering Special Const. Joanasie Dialla's RCMP pension.

In last week's Nunavut News/North, Andrew Dialla told the story of his father - an RCMP special constable - who never received his pension. The form was in English, and Dialla's father disregarded it with the slew of newsletters he received from the RCMP. He took another job to support his family and died in 1984.

"The first step is that the RCMP will review the file, the Director of National Compensation Services would look at it," said Sgt. Sylvie Tremblay.

Sgt. Tremblay explained that if Andrew Dialla isn't satisfied with the ruling of the director, he would have to take the case up in court.

Over the years, Dialla has contacted NTI, his MLA, his MP and the RCMP about his father's pension. He isn't surprised that the next step is another hoop to jump through.

"I approached NTI years ago, and they couldn't help," said Dialla. "I've tried asking the MP to help me with some other things, and I've never been able to get anything. My MLA knows about it. I could give it to him again, but what could he do with it?"

Cambridge Bay's Johnny Lyall is a former special constable who is looking for some respect for his colleagues who have died.

"I know Andrew and I knew his father. I got my pension," said Lyall, who was based in Iqaluit as a special constable until 1984.

His concern is for part-time special constables. His father was one.

"Lots of them were part-time, but they don't get a pension. I'm trying to get them headstones," said Lyall.

He said special headstones for the part-time special constables would help their contribution be remembered.

"I just want people who were special constables to be remembered. I was the one who brought that up. There are some (headstones) up in the Baffin and Nunaviq. I was looking for Cambridge Bay," explained Lyall.

Lyall contacted the RCMP a month ago and is waiting for a response. He thinks the special role special constables played deserves special recognition.

"They were pretty important. They were the interpreters and the guides," said Lyall.