Mr. Speaker, there is a serious situation developing within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The plan to eliminate some 1,000 RCMP positions is very disturbing. What is even more disturbing is that half of these positions are to be left vacant in British Columbia.
To open up the Regina training centre for four groups of 25 trainees each, for a total of 100 new officers a year, is an inadequate token.
RCMP detachments in rural British Columbia are seriously understaffed and overworked. Investigations per member are at record numbers. The personal and health consequences for them is frightening. What happens when a violent situation erupts and there is no backup available?
This is a serious problem with long term implications. The Mounties are unable to provide Canadians with basic services, yet they are still expected to target long term organized crime and to support the new gun control implementation.
We need our Mounties in full force. I call upon the government to act now to restore staffing and funding so that Canadians from coast to coast can have the police—