Canadians are concerned about it with our opinion surveys showing nine out of ten Canadians consider organized crime to be a serious problem. It is not a crime problem that affects the other community down the street it affects everyone. And that s apart from the social damage done by illegal drugs to our system, our communities and our children. Even in the places thought to be the most peaceful or quiet, organized crime has its effects, such as in my province of Prince Edward Island. Large and small cities and towns alike are not immune.
Organized crime is an equal opportunity destroyer.
In October 1999, in the Speech from the Throne, the Government reiterated its commitment to promoting safer communities. The fight against organized crime is a key part of this. And we committed ourselves to combining prevention and a community-centered approach with action to deal with serious crime, including organized crime. I believe that this symposium is an ideal opportunity to help realize these objectives. That means ensuring the RCMP has the tools and the resources it needs to protect our communities at the local level, where it serves in over 700 communities.