The West Block Transcript – Episode 41, Season 13

THE WEST BLOCK
Episode 41, Season 13
Sunday, June 23, 2024

Host: Mercedes Stephenson

Guests:
Mike Duheme, RCMP Commissioner

Inside Politics Panel:
Robert Fife, The Globe and Mail, Ottawa Bureau Chief
Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star, Ottawa Deputy Bureau Chief

Location:
Ottawa Studio

Mercedes Stephenson: The RCMP is Canada’s front line defence against national security threats. But as those threats become more common and more complex, how are the Mounties dealing with them?

I’m Mercedes Stephenson. The West Block starts now.

Terrorism, cyber-crime, and foreign interference are huge responsibilities, all under the RCMP umbrella. We sit down with the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mike Duheme, to talk national security.

Speaker of the House: “The House shall stand adjourned.”

Mercedes Stephenson: And the House has risen for the summer. What were the highs and lows? And what’s in the future for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

Our inside politics panels joins us to wrap up the session.

It’s one of the world’s most recognizable police forces, and when it comes to the law, the RCMP is the face of Canada in global security circles, and that includes the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, alongside the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, and the International Criminal Police Organization–INTERPOL.

The RCMP is seeing unprecedented threats according to senior sources from national security to foreign interference, and it’s putting the pressure on the force like never before.

Mike Duheme joined the front lines of the force 37 years ago, and officially became the commissioner two months ago, after several months as interim leader.

Thanks so much for joining us, commissioner.

Mike Duheme, RCMP Commissioner: Thanks for having