Nia:wen , April.
I want to make it clear that public safety is a priority for Akwesasne, but it is a shared responsibility. As a large, advanced indigenous community, we are in a very unique geographical location. However, we experience many challenges created by the international border. Our Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, AMPS, is part of a joint investigative team with the RCMP, OPP, SQ and CBSA, but we need to be part of the joint forums on border activities, policy and law development. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service needs to be at the table where decisions are made and intelligence is shared. Our collective efforts must be made while respecting Akwesasne's jurisdiction and rights. Respect and understanding of Akwesasne's authority are a crucial element in our collective success.
A key component of trafficking and cross-border crimes is awareness and prevention. The community safety fund is a start, but a whole-of-government approach is needed to combat crime and gun violence. It is no secret to anyone that our community is exploited by organized crime, but what we do know is that many individuals involved in cross-border trafficking do it because of the money.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is one of the largest community employers, followed by many small businesses. The government needs to come to the table to promote economic development, partner and create more jobs. The Government of Canada legalized cannabis. Health Canada issued a licence to the first on-reserve cannabis producer right here in Akwesasne, but still, every dollar of excise levied from our community, from this licensed facility, goes right to Canada. Canada needs to enter into shared revenue agreements with Akwesasne so that revenue can be reinvested into community prosperity.
You already know that gun trafficking is tied to drug trafficking, but what we know is that fast money in trafficking, in too many cases, supports drug addiction. As many communities face an opiate crisis, especially during COVID, we share these issues as well. With the cycle of loss, crime and addictions continue, organized crime and money being the fuel for exploiting our community.
Continued government investment and willingness to work outside the box are needed. We need investments in the Akwesasne Mohawk Police. One of Public Safety Canada's evaluations of the Akwesasne organized crime initiative's, JIT, report in 2019 recommends the continued support of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service “in building their capacity to ensure their full participation on the Joint Investigative Team and contribution to the disruption of organized crime in and around Akwesasne.”
Canada must continue to invest in AMPS. We need to enhance our capacity, enhance our ability to conduct lengthy investigations and purchase new and advanced technology to have the ability to patrol the 25 kilometres of waterway within our reservation. The budget for AMPS has not seen a significant increase in the last several years, except with respect to Ontario, which has provided specific funding for five years to create a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle and vessel enforcement unit known as SAVE.
No other funding partner has invested in AMPS to increase the ability to combat crime. No other police force in Canada is funded like Akwesasne. This funding agreement causes issues like the chicken-and-egg theory: No government will increase supports without the other agreeing to increase, because of the cost-sharing formula.
In closing, I'm here to tell you that public safety is one of our top priorities. We are always open to partnership. We want to keep our community safe. Akwesasne Mohawk Police needs the designation of an essential service, as many other first nations police services do. We need to be at the table where decisions are made and intelligence is shared, and we need the resources to continue to protect and patrol our community.
That is it for my formal presentation.
Nia:wen to the committee for the opportunity to present. We are open to questions.