Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize National Police Week, which this year runs from May 15 to 21. Throughout this week, Canadians have the opportunity to connect and engage with their police officers from coast to coast to coast.
We are blessed to live in one of the safest and most livable countries in the world. Our relative safety is a reflection of our values and Canadians' respect for the rule of law. There is perhaps no better reflection of those values than the very special relationship that exists between Canadians in every community and the dedicated men and women of our police services, who each and every day place themselves in harm's way to keep us safe.
It is worth noting this week that there is no other country in the world that has as one of its most enduring national symbols a police officer on a horse. It is a symbol that recognizes the history of the service of the RCMP and officers from police services across Canada, and the critical role they have played and continue to play in upholding the laws and values of our country.
This week, we have the opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding work of the dedicated and courageous police officers who serve us each day. I encourage all Canadians to join me in thanking them for their selfless devotion—