Public Safety committee  For me, the simple answer would be yes. We are always learning. We learn thanks to research, our investigations and meetings with witnesses who were part of organized crime. So I would say yes, but we are always learning.

Public Safety committee  I guess from an RCMP perspective, Mr. Chair, we appreciate the fact that we were consulted along the way, and we appreciate the changes that are being brought to the federal witness protection program to help us in our daily work.

Public Safety committee  I don't know that percentage per se, but with the improvements and the enhancements to the program, we are going to see, in my estimation, more and more becoming more self-sufficient more quickly. The case management plan has a lot of rigour around it. There is the training we'

Public Safety committee  My sense is that the effort we are putting in on the front end is going to pay huge dividends for us on the back end.

Public Safety committee  That is correct. We are always there in the background in the event they are passing 123 Main Street and run across somebody from their past life. If they have a fear or if a threat of some kind surfaces, we will come back into the picture as required. Aside from that, you're abs

Public Safety committee  I would have to see the specifics. There is no identified crime. It doesn't specify that you have to be involved with a specific group or crime. It's simply based upon the risk they're facing, and the decision is made at that time as to whether they should be considered for entry

Public Safety committee  The provinces have clearly indicated their decision in regard to what witness protection is, and there's good communication, good dialogue, with us in the federal program. We can see that here, even with this bill, with regard to obtaining federal documents and how it facilitates

Public Safety committee  There have been no issues that have been brought to my attention.

Public Safety committee  Do you mean for the obtaining of federal documents?

Public Safety committee  If you mean for these other agencies being able to refer people into the witness protection program, I see that as affording them another avenue in their investigative toolbox for the protection of potential witnesses or people who are assisting them in their area of responsibili

Public Safety committee  First, as far as I know, there are no age restrictions. If we have a witness, an assessment will be done to determine whether he or she will be admitted to the program. Following the consultation, age may be used to determine whether it is the witness alone or the witness and the

Public Safety committee  I don't know. Admission to the program is not based on a particular type of crime; rather, it is based on a potential threat to the witness.

Public Safety committee  I can confirm that there is no age limit.

Public Safety committee  Yes.

Public Safety committee  No. If the documentation is prepared properly, it can go very quickly. In comparison, before Bill C-51, individuals had to be admitted to the federal program and we dealt with a number of different police forces. In the majority of cases, what slows down the process to obtain t