I'm in favour of this motion, Mr. Chair. I'm glad that Ms. Michaud proposed it today. We're talking about a crucial factor in efforts to combat organized crime.
At the moment, the fact that there are too few inspections at the Port of Montreal, the Port of Vancouver and ports in other parts in Canada, definitely has an impact on our ability to take down criminal networks. We don't have the resources needed, because the government has been negligent in this area. Indeed, over a 20-year period, fewer and fewer resources were being allocated to the port system.
This has also had an impact on public safety, because it can lead to a smuggling hub in Canada, whether at the Port of Montreal or the Port of Vancouver.
It's therefore extremely important for us to look into this matter. It's also important to go to the Port of Montreal and the Port of Vancouver to see just how lax things are in terms of the inspections needed for the police to counter criminal networks.
There are not enough inspections for either exports or imports. Port system unions and workers have said so repeatedly.
I am therefore fully in favour of the motion for this study. It's important for the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to look into the problem, and also to consider what solutions and investments are needed to do something about this epidemic.