RCMP to get overnight accommodations in Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.

RCMP officers will be able to overnight in Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., starting this fall, says the territory'sminister of Justice.

Mackenzie Delta MLA Frederick Blake has been calling on the territorial government to provide accommodations for visiting patrollers in the community of about 160 people. It's one of 10 communities in the N.W.T. without an RCMP detachment.

Tsiigehtchicis served by visiting officers from the detachment in Fort McPherson, about an hour's drive away.

"I'm happy to say we've worked with the N.W.T. Housing Corporation. We're in the process now of installing a two-bedroom portable unit that will allow the RCMP to use it for its members," said David Ramsay, minister of Justice, in the Legislative Assembly Thursday.

Blake, while welcoming the news, said he'd rather see the unit in place this summer rather than risk the unit not making it into the community because of the interruption of ferry service atfall freeze-up.

Blake alsoworries that the hour-long driveto get to the community via the Dempster Highway from Fort McPherson putsresidents in danger.

Ramsay says that between January and April of this year, Tsiigehtchic residents placed 14 calls to RCMP for service.