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IQALUIT - Two months after holding an open forum on public safety, Iqaluit city council has established a community safety committee.

"I'm very in favour of this committee," Coun. Simon Nattaq said through a translator.

"We are going to look after these people now who take things that do not belong to them. We will discipline them through this committee."

Citizens who attended the public meeting on Oct. 21 came up with the initial concept of the committee, which was later proposed to the city by councillor Jim Little.

While Little's initial motion on Nov. 25 to establish the group was approved in principle only, council granted its full support after staff helped draft appropriate terms of reference for the proposed committee.

According the document, the safety committee will help the city "maximize the use of its resources and ensure that priorities of safety are reflected in the best interest and concerns of all residents of Iqaluit."

The terms dictate that the committee be composed of not more than five volunteer members at large, three councillors and non-voting ex-officio members from the RCMP, Nunavut's Department of Justice and or the Department of Correction Services, as well as the city's chief municipal enforcement officer and the mayor.

As with other council committees, the safety committee is required to report to council on a bimonthly basis. It is also permitted to establish subcommittees to research and advise the council on issues pertaining to public safety.

On Dec. 9, John Hussey, Iqaluit's senior administrative officer, commended Little and the group of supportive citizens who helped staff draft the terms of reference.

"Jim and his group of individual citizens have provided a lot of terminology and information pertaining to the terms of reference," he said. "They have also developed draft terms of goals and objectives ... It is a good start."

The proposal to establish the committee was passed, with Coun. Glenn Williams voting against the motion and Coun. David Alexander abstaining.

Williams said he did not have enough time to review the terms of reference.

"I haven't seen this until 20 minutes ago," he said.

Alexander said he abstained because he believed public safety was the responsibility of the RCMP.

"I'm not against (the committee)," he said through a translator. "I'm abstaining to vote because we have RCMP in Iqaluit. This is their job. I will always be stating that."