Regina, Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Over the last few months, I have developed a strong appreciation for the RCMP above and beyond the iconic image the institution evokes in the minds of many people around the world. Whether it was during discussions with the officers who accompany me or in exchanges with those whom I have met in my travels across the country, I have been touched by their humility and noble devotion to the well-being of their fellow Canadians.

The RCMP motto, “Upholding the Right,” really only hints at your organization’s heartfelt dedication to promoting and protecting the peaceful ideals of freedom and justice for all. It is therefore a great honour for me to join you today.

As commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, I am particularly sensitive to the vital role played by those who work tirelessly to enhance our freedom and to protect the core values we all cherish.

Our ability to relate to each other, to break the solitudes that still divide us today, and to reach out to those who lack a voice, is deeply rooted in our evolving sense of trust and security. Through their daily work protecting the vulnerable, fostering meaningful partnerships with communities, and encouraging our young people to make responsible life choices, RCMP officers help to secure the conditions that make our country one of the safest places in the world.

But, the work does not end there. The international community is increasingly relying on your homegrown expertise to train and democratize police organizations in other countries, to help resolve military conflicts overseas, and to assist refugees fleeing from ethnic, religious, and gender-based violence.  RCMP officers have shown a heroic commitment to peace-building and human rights in such places as Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti, where I will soon have an opportunity to meet with officers who have contributed to peace and stability.

You have helped to position Canada as a beacon of hope and stability among the nations of the world.

These efforts are not without risk, however. The tragic death of the four RCMP officers who were killed outside of Mayerthorpe in Alberta, for example, serves as a sad reminder of the dangers you face on a daily basis.

Yet, it is in the midst of brutality and despair that RCMP officers have found the courage to stand up and make a difference in the lives of countless women and men in Canada and around the world. You serve as an inspiration to us all.

I must admit that I am overjoyed to see so many young people present today. When I became the 27^th governor general of Canada, I vowed to support youth in their efforts to build a better world.

Far too often, people assume that youth are not concerned about the world surrounding them; that they are not interested in the role they can play in building stronger and more healthy communities. You have all heard the old clichés: “youth are not interested,” “their minds are elsewhere,” “they just don’t care.” Your very presence here as cadets of the RCMP testifies to your earnest desire to become responsible leaders and positive agents of change in your respective communities today.

I know that you bring to this organization an impressive array of life skills and work experiences, which will be an enrichment to all. But, as the saying goes, behind each successful student always lies several devoted teachers. It is for this reason that I must commend the incredible work of your instructors who are helping you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective RCMP officers.

One skill that particularly concerns me is the ability to establish positive relations with the communities you will soon be serving. As we were reminded last week during a conference organized by the Law Enforcement Aboriginal and Diversity network (LEAD), our society has changed dramatically over the last few decades and all indicators suggest that the Canadian population will continue to evolve.

While our Aboriginal sisters and brothers are establishing a stronger presence in urban areas, the number of Canadians hailing from Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa is also increasing significantly. In fact, Aboriginal peoples and racialized communities will soon constitute majorities in several of our large cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Regina.

As conference delegates pointed out, ethnocultural and racial diversity has major implications for policing in this country. Officers are faced with the challenge of building relationships of trust with the diverse communities with which they work. Law enforcement agencies are now grappling with ways to ensure that diversity flourishes at all levels within their organizations. Unfortunately, the shadow of racial profiling looms large over communities that feel they are unjustly targeted.

More and more, Canadian studies are showing that even when they have not engaged in criminal activities, members of some groups are more likely to be targeted because of their perceived cultural or racial predisposition to crime.

In many cases, these realities breed mistrust between law enforcement officers and ordinary citizens, making it harder to foster the types of relationships that are so essential to keeping our communities safe.

Criminal elements have seized upon this disconnect in order to draw the disenchanted into their fold. When I worked as a journalist, I witnessed first hand how organized crime manipulates young people into doing their “dirty work.” More and more, we are seeing well-structured criminal syndicates reaching out to those who have lost faith in our society, providing them with a false sense of belonging and alluring rewards. Lacking positive role models in their lives, many are increasingly being seduced by the material wealth flaunted in front of them.

This is one of the reasons I think it is so important for police organizations across the country to reflect accurately the composition of Canadian society. Our young people need to be challenged; they need to be inspired; to be shown that they too can partake in the benefits of our society. Seeing themselves reflected in our public institutions can often be the missing spark that reignites their sense of hope.

This representation should not be based solely upon the symbolic presence of women, linguistic minorities, Aboriginal peoples and racialized groups within the ranks of law enforcement agencies. It should really be centered on establishing constructive dialogues with different communities and ensuring that diversity, equity and community accountability are guiding principles within the operations of these organizations.

It is in this spirit that I must congratulate Inspector Lennard Busch, someone very special to me who has accompanied me almost everywhere I have gone, for recently having being named director of the Aboriginal Community Police Training Center at the Canadian Police College.

And so, I encourage you, as you complete your training and begin working as officers across the country, to maintain the spirit of openness, dialogue and humility that is so essential to creating “safe homes, safe communities” and therefore to breaking yet another solitude that is impeding our ability to live together.

Once again, I would like to thank you for receiving me today, and I wish you luck in your training.