Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on the comments by my colleague on the other side of the House.
The RCMP website indicates the following:
There are instances when the costs of witness protection may impede investigations, particularly for smaller law enforcement agencies.
The RCMP is referring to small law enforcement agencies that enforce the law, such as municipal forces, not the RCMP. The RCMP has never claimed to have a funding problem. That is not what we are talking about. The problem is that the costs associated with this program are borne by the provinces and small entities such as local police forces.
I would like my colleague to comment further on the difference between the RCMP and local law enforcement agencies.