Evidence of meeting #130 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
If you're in a remote community and there's a crime, unless there's a police officer stationed just down the block, you're not going to get the same kind of response time as you would in a city. Is that the sort of thing you're looking for, the same kind of response time that you get in the city, or do you accept that in a rural environment there are going to be differences in response times and a difference in staffing levels? Is it that generally speaking, at some point in the process, you need to know that those various services that are available in urban areas are also available in rural areas?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
To have that discussion, how realistic is it for our Canadian government to change up the policing system that's in place? There's probably very little chance of that occurring. Then there is the way the RCMP is laid out and what the senior level has to do in terms of redistributing and distributing the availability of detachments and members. Are we prepared to have that discussion here in Canada?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Let's not worry about how the chess pieces move. What is it you expect?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
For me, I am. If something is occurring, I need to phone the RCMP. I want to have the same access to the RCMP as you would.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
That's what I'm hearing from my riding.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
I'm not giving you a clear answer on that because even in the city, if they're tied up with a crime or an incident, they can't get their.... It could be the same amount of time even if it's in a rural or northern.... Every situation is different.
Again, as a resident, I need help from the RCMP. I phone and I want the RCMP to come and see me or come to the incident.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Right, but I guess I'm still not seeing clarity in what you mean by the same access. It's not going to be identical.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Again, I'm being clear.
If I phone 911 and I'm dealing with this incident, I want the police to come. That's the same process everywhere else and anywhere else in Canada.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
I'm not quite sure what's going on over here, but you and Mr. McKinnon are having a conversation, with about 30 seconds left.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
You're saying that when you make a call, you want someone to show up. Does that not happen now?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Again, I'm talking about the process and what's available in Canada. It's the same thing. Again, if I phone for police help in the city of Saskatoon, I expect the police to come and see me. Again, that should be as anywhere else across Canada.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Fair enough, but are you saying it doesn't happen in your community, that when you make the call, the police don't come?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Yes, I'm not going to answer that question clearly because you're misunderstanding the point that I'm trying to make.
Residents across Canada should have and must have access to law enforcement services, be it the municipal police force or the RCMP.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Mr. McKinnon.
Ms. Jolibois, thank you for your testimony before the committee. We appreciate your effort to express yourself here.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you.
Before I suspend and we bring in the RCMP panel, I have two items to bring to colleagues' attention.
Normally we would do this in camera, but I don't really see the point. It is adopting a budget for this particular study. It's all been distributed. I don't anticipate that we will spend nearly the amount of money that's budgeted for. Nevertheless, we do need to have a budget for this particular study.
May I have a mover of the motion?
