It’s great to be back in Saskatchewan and I’m especially happy to be back at Depot Division this morning. The last time I was here was January of last year when I had a chance to meet with some of the cadets over breakfast; spending time with these young women and men, seeing how focused and committed they are was a great experience.

What they shared with me reminded me just how hard they work and about the sacrifices they make during training. All of the cadets here, except those from Regina, had to leave their communities to come here for their training. They may have had to leave their parents, their partners or their children at home. They had to leave their community to take part in an extremely difficult 26-week training exercise in the hopes of succeeding and becoming a new member of the RCMP. It is no exaggeration to say that the future of the RCMP—and consequently, the safety and security of all Canadians—is dependent upon the quality of the training that cadets receive here. It takes an exceptional individual to earn the red serge, and it takes an exceptional leader to ensure that a place like the Depot Division runs well.

For the past year and a half, the exceptional person in charge of Depot has been Assistant Commissioner Brenda Lucki. As commanding officer of Depot, Assistant Commissioner Lucki has been focused on ensuring that cadets receive the best possible training, including diversity training, so that when they receive their field placements they are ready to investigate crimes, enforce the law and keep our communities safe and secure. From the day that she chose the RCMP, Assistant Commissioner Lucki has made it her mission to serve the public. She’s known for being a hard worker, a dedicated officer, and someone who is constantly looking for ways to improve the status quo.

During her nearly 32 years with the RCMP, she has served at divisions in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. She worked with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia and helped train and select police units for the UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti. She taught in the applied political science program here at the RCMP school. Assistant Commissioner Lucki has received numerous awards for her excellent work and, in particular, she has been inducted into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces for her efforts to improve relations between the RCMP and First Nations in northern Manitoba.

In light of those accomplishments, and many others, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing Brenda Lucki, the RCMP Commissioner-Designate.

(Applause)

When she takes her new post this April, she will be the 24th commissioner in the RCMP’s history and the first woman to serve as commissioner in a permanent role. As head of the RCMP Commissioner Lucki will be responsible for overseeing all RCMP activities, including preventing and investigating crime, maintaining peace and order, enforcing laws, contributing to national security, ensuring the safety of state officials, visiting dignitaries, and foreign missions, and providing vital operational support services to other police and law enforcement agencies within Canada and abroad. She will also play a vital role in advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples, promoting gender equality and equity, supporting mental wellness across the RCMP, addressing workplace harassment, and protecting the civil liberties of all Canadians.

On behalf of our government, I would like to thank the Acting Commissioner, Daniel Dubeau, for his work and welcome Commissioner‑Designate Lucki to her new role. We are looking forward to working with her to protect Canadians and defend the law, in keeping with the motto.