Hon. Michèle Audette: Kuei, minister.

In my community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, and in many First Nations communities, homes are being burned down and young people are dying because of their ties to organized crime or street gangs. For nearly 30 or 40 years, police services in our communities has been chronically underfunded and under‑resourced, which directly jeopardizes public safety. The Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called for adequate services. Despite this, these services tend to be treated as pilot projects or temporary programs, rather than essential services. My first question is this: How long does the government plan to maintain this precarious approach when it comes to Indigenous communities?

Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety: Thank you for your question, senator.

[English]

We have done a fair amount of work in the last 11 months to ensure that First Nations policing is a critical component of the work that we do. As you are aware, currently, we have a cost‑sharing formula with the provinces as part of the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program, or FNIPP. In Quebec, for example, in your community, that is one of the programs that we have, including additional funding for infrastructure, which, I believe, is now being built out in many communities across Canada.

Policing as an essential service has been demanded by many communities. As I talk to the National Chief and others, it is a central ask.

I would say that for me, the funding is quite important because we cannot have it as a national essential service when we have different provinces with different positions at the table. What I am seeking is broader funding that will speak to the needs of every province and territory, and then from there, we’ll work toward legislation. I know legislation is something that people have asked for. I’m hesitant to do that without ensuring that provinces are on board from the outset —

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, minister.

Senator Audette: I can understand that some provinces are hesitant about legislation, but we believe it is important. I would like us to work on a bill to ensure that police services are essential, regardless of the status of the community, that is, whether it has a modern treaty, a self-government agreement or, as in the case of my community, neither of these.

I think your government has some momentum at the moment that will likely continue for a few months or years, and I hope to see a bill on this.

[English]

Mr. Anandasangaree: Senator, I look forward to working with you, and thank you for your wishes. I think there was a wish in there somewhere. Certainly, there is a fair amount of work to do on Indigenous policing overall.

I want to highlight that Senator Francis and I were at a meeting a couple of months ago where we talked about the other elements of policing that are challenging communities as well, and it continues to be one of the areas where I know we need to do more work.

As part of the contract renewal, I’m hoping we can iron out some of these issues where Indigenous policing is a component of that renewal, as well as the areas where we can progress in provinces where there is a much better partnership.