Keep in mind that this is very important. Since the first nations policing program was started in the early 1990s, there's been little investment in the policing program. I call it a resource deficit over 30 years. Everything that we do affects everything regarding the safety of our communities because the lack of investing—or, I would call it, the purposely not investing—in our policing services and safety in our communities....
We get what goes on with other services outside of first nations policing—the amount of resources they're given, the funding they're given. We have been studied in almost every category you can think of, and we're the highest in almost everything. When it comes to the effects of mental health not only in our communities but also in the police officers.... They're working extraordinary hours right from the start of their careers, with no end in sight, looking and hoping that someday there will be some adequate resources and investments.
One day, I'm going to retire soon, but I would like this resource deficit to be fixed—and not over another 30 years but hopefully in five to 10 years, maybe—so that there are some investments. It's very discouraging. The budget that was just passed doesn't mention first nations policing at all. Maybe there will be some mention of it in the spring. It's very difficult. We work with what we have. With our funding shortfalls, we do our best to provide benefits that address mental health. We rely heavily on our culture, our medicines from our communities, because there's no cost. To go to doctors.... It's very difficult to find a doctor right now in a first nation community.
The challenges are always there. We do the best we can to make it work, but we can't continue to sustain that forever.
Thank you very much.