OTTAWA — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, has tabled 49 Royal Canadian Mounted Police First Nations community policing service agreements.

In Cariboo-Prince George these communities include Red Bluff Indian Band (Lhtako Dene Nation), Nazko Indian Band, Alexandria Indian Band and Kluskus Indian Band (Lhoosk’uz Dene Government), and the Williams Lake Band & Soda Creek Band.

“The tabling of these agreements is another example of our government’s commitment to make communities safer,” said Dick Harris, Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George. “Through this agreement, these First Nations communities are provided with dedicated police services.”

Community policing agreements are negotiated by the Government of Canada, the participating First Nation and the respective Province or Territory. They provide the administrative and financial framework for a contingent of RCMP officers that meets the particular needs of each community. The federal government contributes 52 percent toward the costs and the provincial or territorial government pays 48 percent.

The RCMP makes every effort to hire members of Aboriginal descent for these community police services.