A former commanding officer who served in Nunavut says he believes police officers should be using body cameras and only turning them on during encounters with the public to minimize the hurdle of data storage.

Vernon White, currently a Senator for Ontario, said it's not practical for officers to leave body cameras running for full 12-hour shifts because that creates an excessive amount of file footage to archive.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut that shouldn't get in the way of good policy or good procedures... the fact that it's too expensive is not something that should be weighed by the public or by you as a reporter as to whether or not it should happen. That's (the 's) job to have that discussion,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎t the end of the day, I absolutely agree with body-worn video. I think it's a positive thing for officers. I think it's positive for the public.SA国际影视传媒�

The 's financial woes are well documented and that has led to the police force's SA国际影视传媒渉uge vacancy ratesSA国际影视传媒� and salaries for Mounties trail many city police departments across the country, White said.

However, the expenses related to body cameras should be covered through the 's contract with the Government of Nunavut, White noted.

The territorial Department of Justice sent the following statement to Nunavut News:

SA国际影视传媒淭he department has been working with the V division to examine the feasibility of body-worn video (body cameras) in Nunavut. Implementing the use of body cameras in Nunavut will be a considerable project which will require operational, technical, and financial analysis. While we are unable to provide a timeline for this initiative, work is underway.SA国际影视传媒�

On May 14, a spokesperson for headquarters in Ottawa said Commissioner Brenda Lucki would not provide an interview related to body cameras. Instead, an emailed statement was sent.

SA国际影视传媒淭he continually reviews its policies, procedures and equipment to ensure it is using the most effective practices in law enforcement. This includes researching and, on occasion, pilot testing new technology, if it is deemed to enhance public safety,SA国际影视传媒� the statement reads, in part.

And then it refers to a December 2016 news release that deemed body camera technology as unable to meet SA国际影视传媒渟pecific operational requirements.SA国际影视传媒� An accompanying October 2013 news release SA国际影视传媒� now six-and-a-half years old SA国际影视传媒� cites limited battery life and limited camera durability as issues.

SA国际影视传媒淭he has worked closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure privacy considerations have been assessed in relation to the body-worn video pilot projects and consultations remain ongoing,SA国际影视传媒� the 's May 20 statement reads.

White, who has studied body cameras in Australia as well, said most officers spend less than an hour per shift engaged with the public, so that would vastly reduce the amount of data required to be stored if the cameras are only turned on while interacting with civilians. It also doesn't drain the battery.

On May 5, a man in Clyde River was shot and killed by a responding officer and on Feb. 26 a man died in Cape Dorset during an incident involving a Mountie.

White SA国际影视传媒� who served in the North from 1984-2003, including a stint as Nunavut's commanding officer from 2001-2003 SA国际影视传媒� later went on to become chief with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and it was during his tenure that the agreement was signed to have OPS officers investigate actions in fatal incidents.

He said he would embrace the idea of a civilian oversight body assisting in investigations of conduct, something Justice Minister Jeannie Ehaloak said is under consideration during the winter sitting of the legislative assembly.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the suggestion is that they would have people added to that (investigative) team, I don't see a negative side to that. I would support that... It's helpful from a cultural perspective and a community connectivity perspective and a knowledge and historical perspective,SA国际影视传媒� White said, adding that excluding an outside police force's expertise entirely, on the other hand, would be SA国际影视传媒渁sking for trouble.SA国际影视传媒�

The idea is not new in Nunavut, it just hasn't been acted on. During a May 2017 meeting in Iqaluit following three -related deaths earlier that year, former mayor Mary Wilman expressed frustration over the lack of movement on civilian oversight of the .

SA国际影视传媒淚 live here. I'm born and raised here. For almost 20 years now we've talked about these things. It's like a broken record to me,SA国际影视传媒� Wilman said at the time. SA国际影视传媒淚t's evident today that something is not working.SA国际影视传媒�

In its emailed May 20 statement, headquarters stated the national police force SA国际影视传媒渟upports external review mechanisms.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he legislative changes and resource requirements to establish such regimes are beyond the control of the ,SA国际影视传媒� the statement reads.