The province’s justice minister says government is speaking “daily” with RCMP on the deployment of resources in Labrador amid a growing drug problem in the region.
The Innu Nation is asking both the provincial and federal governments to take action to stem the growing problem made worse after the influx of workers to central Labrador during the construction of Muskrat Falls.
Last month, former MP Peter Penashue was arrested after allegedly taking matters into his own hands as the result of growing frustration over alleged drug activity.
Justice Minister John Hogan was responding to questions in the House of Assembly by the Opposition’s Lloyd Parrott.
“Labradorians have resorted to vigilantism,” says Parrott, “to fight against the ever growing drug problem.” He wanted to know if government joins with Innu Nation Grand Chief Simon Pokue in his call for more RCMP to “stop the drugs from flowing into Labrador.”
Hogan says the province increased the budget by $17 million three years ago to hire more RCMP in the province, but “unfortunately, we still have a vacancy rate of hard and soft vacancies of 20 per cent here in Newfoundland and Labrador.” He calls that “unacceptable” and conversations are being had with the RCMP regularly.