Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague mentioned earlier that some RCMP detachments could be dismantled in her riding of Drummond. We have heard the same thing about the RCMP detachment in the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe for the last year and a half. The government keeps saying that these are only rumours. Maybe, but these rumours are getting persistent.
Does my hon. colleague have any additional information about the dismantling of RCMP detachments? I just want to say, by the way, that this would be a major mistake, because we need these RCMP detachments to fight against organized crime for three main reasons.
First, the RCMP officers working at these detachments are highly skilled. They have developed a bond with the residents and forged links of trust that are very important to the continuing fight against organized crime.
Second, their mere presence is a deterrent.
Third, this is like a game of chess. If a bikers gang builds a bunker somewhere, we need to have a police station nearby as a deterrent.
So, I want to know if the hon. member has heard any additional persistent rumours about the dismantling of RCMP detachments.