New detachments for 7 NAN communities

Seven Nishnawbe Aski Police Service communities will receive new detachment buildings through a $20 million federal-provincial investment in First Nations policing infrastructure.

November 12, 2009: Volume 36 #23, Page A3

“This government is committed to giving our police the tools they need to prevent and solve crimes,” said Peter Van Loan, the federal minister of Public Safety. “Modern facilities are needed to give law enforcement the upper hand to tackle modern criminals. Through these investments from Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we are helping make streets in First Nations communities safer.”

Van Loan and Michael Gravelle, Ontario’s minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry introduced the joint investment Nov. 10 at the NAPS headquarters in Thunder Bay with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, NAPS acting chief of police Robin Jones, Keewaytinook Okimakanak executive director Geordi Kakepetum and Windigo First Nations Council CEO/council chair Frank McKay in attendance.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service acting Chief of Police Robin Jones, left, speaks about NAPS police bikes, which are now used in some of the communities to increase outreach among the community members, with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, ministers Michael Gravelle and Peter Van Loan, Sgt. Jackie George and Sgt. Chris Eisenbach after the Nov. 10 police infrastructure funding announcement.
-Rick Garrick - Wawatay News

Beardy was pleased with the announcement, but noted other NAN communities still require improved facilities.

“We are still looking for additional help,” Beardy said, explaining NAPS provides services to 35 communities covering two thirds of the province of Ontario, most of which are are remote.

“This is a good start.”

Beardy said NAPS needs more officers in the communities so community members do not have to wait for police officers to fly in by air whenever there is a problem.

“Our complement needs to be stronger,” Beardy said.

Jones thanked both levels of government for following through on the recommendations of the coroner’s inquest into the deaths of two Kashechewan men who died in a Jan. 2006 police detachment fire in their community while being held in a jail cell.

“The police detachment is a symbol,” Jones said. “It is a symbol of safety, it is a symbol of community safety. It is the cornerstone of the public presence of the police service.

“For these NAPS communities, Cat Lake, Fort Albany, Kasabonika, Mattagami, Webequie, Wunnumin and Winisk, this funding today will ensure the people in our care will be safe and the feeling of safety in the community will be much improved.”

Jones said NAPS had been looking for improvements for 14 of its detachments.

“We will continue to press for the seven others,” Jones said.

The federal government is investing about $10.4 million and the province is investing about $9.6 million in the new facilities: Cat Lake is receiving a prefabricated building with a total contribution of $1,267,475, Fort Albany is receiving a prefabricated building with a total contribution of $2,849,960, Kasabonika is receiving a prefabricated building with a total contribution of $1,348,705, Mattagami is receiving a total contribution of $1.2 million to build a facility on site, Webequie is receiving a prefabricated building with total contribution of $1,273,355, Weenusk is receiving a prefabricated building with a total contribution of $1,388,920 and Wunnumin is receiving a prefabricated building with a total contribution of $1,273,355.

The federal contribution is one-time funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, while the provincial funding is through the 2009 Ontario Budget -– Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.