July 3, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUEBEC, QC – Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Pierre Paul-Hus, issued the following statement regarding the pending closure of RCMP detachments in Saguenay, Saint-Jérôme, Drummondville, Trois-Rivières and Rouyn-Noranda:

“Over the past number of months, thousands of illegal migrants have streamed across Canada’s southern border at places other than ports of entry, causing an enormous strain on RCMP resources, especially in Quebec. The responsibility for this crisis rests solely with Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. Tweeting ‘#WelcometoCanada’ to those seeking to enter Canada through illegal means was irresponsible and reckless. Worse still, now communities are losing their RCMP detachments, as resources are reallocated to manage this crisis.

“The RCMP also intends to redeploy resources for anti-terrorism and to fight organized crime. Yet, in Bill C-75, the Liberals are proposing lighter sentences or even fines for serious crimes related to terrorism and other crimes for which organized crime is known to be involved in. These measures and the closing of these detachments are hardly comforting to those who live in the affected regions.

“Canadians deserve answers from the Liberals as to what they are doing to keep our border secure and our communities and regions safe. That is why I, along with my colleague Richard Martel, MP for Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, who represents one of the communities slated to lose their detachment, have requested a meeting with the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety of Emergency Preparedness, to discuss these closures and the RCMP’s work in Quebec’s regions.

“Conservatives will continue to fight for Quebec’s regions and to keep our communities safe.”

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