The leadership of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation engaged in discussions with Public Safety Canada regarding urgent community safety issues being experienced in the area.

The meeting, which was also attended by Matt Mirasty from provincial Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, came after PBCN’s urgent call to Ottawa over escalating violence and crime rates.

PBCN Chief Peter Beatty says the Cree nation is dealing with a Crime Severity Index six times above the province’s average with violent crimes having doubled in the past four years.

A release from PBCN says recent statistics show a tripling in weapons charges and a 154 percent increase in justice administration offenses, like court appearance breaches.

They report that the crime spike coincides with a 30 percent deficiency in RCMP staffing in the community, which currently operates with 10 officers, despite being authorized for 15.

Beatty says he looks forward to quick implementation of measures to address these issues, and he hopes for continued support from the federal government.