House of Commons Debates
Friday, November 18, 2005

ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

Unedited copy - not official until printed in Hansard

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Mr. Guy Lauzon (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, CPC): Mr. Speaker, yesterday in response to a question from my colleague from Yorkton—Melville, the public safety minister said she had no outstanding formal requests for RCMP officers. The day before the minister told the subcommittee on public safety and I quote:

I've received a formal written request from the Minister of Justice in Manitoba for an increase in complement.

She also said and again I quote:

The Solicitor General in the province of Alberta after the Mayerthorpe tragedy asked for a significant increase in complement.

Which of the minister's statements is false, the one made in committee or the one made in the House?

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I think I was absolutely plain yesterday and I will repeat what I said yesterday. The police services agreement is very clear. Article 6 provides that it is the contracting province, territory or municipality that determines the number of RCMP officers they need in their jurisdiction and are prepared to fund. The RCMP has answered positively to every single request from provinces under contract policing. There are no outstanding requests.

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