Thank you, Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen.
I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to provide this perspective of the RCMP, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, on Bill C-10. We recognize that achieving public safety, or a safe society, requires commitment and a continuum of action from all stakeholders. The criminal justice system, including enforcement and sentencing provisions for legislation, is one tool that can assist in achieving this.
The RCMP Public Safety and Crime Reduction Strategy is premised on a few guiding principles, specifically targeting crime, location and offender; simplicity of design and execution; coordination of partners and process; a continuum of action on prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.
This strategic approach is about preventing crime in the first place, intervening early where people are at risk, taking rapid enforcement action and providing support and rehabilitation and resettlement services to victims and offenders.
In 2006-07 the RCMP's planning process identified the need to focus on the impact of guns, gangs, and drugs. To that end, RCMP units across Canada will be aligning initiatives to combat this menace. In doing so, we draw on research done on the impact of organized crime in remote and rural communities, the growth of youth gangs, and the nexus with vulnerable populations such as our aboriginal communities. We are working with our key partners and stakeholders at the community, provincial, territorial, and federal levels to operationalize strategies that will increase public safety through the reduction of crime.
The major impact of this legislative reform will be at the provincial and territorial level in the administration of justice. If there are more trials, police agencies across Canada will find their resources heavily taxed by the workload this will require upstream.
I am ready to answer your questions.
I have prepared a few other notes. If you would permit me to continue, I will read them.