Review the RCMP Contract - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER » : My question is for the Minister of Justice. Last week, when I asked the minister to table the preliminary analysis on policing services that was conducted by the previous government, the minister said there is no review of policing. I will table that.

A briefing note from January 2021, which we received in our caucus in response to a freedom of information request, includes the recommendation that the committee be established as an initial step to examine options to pursue a comprehensive review of policing in Nova Scotia and to present those findings by February of 2021. I will table that.

Will the minister now acknowledge that a review of policing was under way in the department and will he table the findings?

HON. BRAD JOHNS « » : If you table that document I will look at it and I do appreciate that. As I said previously in the House, there has been no review of policing that I've seen or am aware of and I have asked numerous staff.

If the member has something that is different than that, I certainly look forward to seeing it.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I do hope this conversation continues because included in that Freedom of Information package is a letter sent from the former Minister of Justice to the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and this letter states, "Please be advised that the Department of Justice has struck an internal committee to carry out a preliminary analysis of policing service delivery across Nova Scotia."

It goes on: "This work is being carried out as a matter of prudent fiscal responsibility as well as sustainability and effectiveness . . .," and I will table that. Last week when I asked the minister to commit to an immediate review of the RCMP contract, he said no.

Given the fact that an analysis was already under way in the department as a matter of prudent fiscal responsibility, will the minister now commit to a transparent and accountable review of the RCMP contract?

BRAD JOHNS « » : Once again, my stance is where it was last week. I still don't see that as happening at this time, particularly, as I've said previously, until we see what comes back from the Mass Casualty Commission in the report from them. I will look at what the member tabled.