Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The RCMP, along with other police organizations nationally, right now are having a very challenging time recruiting anybody, period.

With that, in 2023, we started a very robust recruiting program. We launched a first nations, Inuit and Métis recruiting strategy specific to those designations to help increase the number of applicants and increase candidate retention. The key objectives of this strategy include targeted marketing and outreach, reduction of barriers for applicants and the provision of support for applicants.

Our goal is to reach 10% indigenous cadets at Depot by the year 2027. For the first time since the pandemic, we are up to 40 troops. We have a goal of getting to 50 troops, with the full 32 allotment within those troops.

I attended Depot last week. It was the 30th anniversary of the indigenous pre-cadet training program, IPTP. We had a full troop with that. Many of these young adults want to work not only in their home communities, but in other indigenous communities.

We have our second IPTP troop starting in August. I think we're on a really good pathway as it is right now.

Overall, the RCMP has about 2,500 vacancies. That's about a 15% vacancy pattern across the board for frontline policing.

In our indigenous communities, however, out of 1,823 indigenous employees, we have about a 7% vacancy. Again, I don't say that's good, but I think we're making some pretty good headway.

I'm really optimistic that in years to come, we'll have a really good-news story for you.

Thank you.