Public Safety Committee on May 23rd, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 107 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, October 23, 2023, the committee is resuming its study of the growing problem of car thefts in Canada.

Before we begin, I would like to ask all members and other in-person participants to consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents.

Please take note of the following preventive measures in place to protect the health and safety of all participants, including our interpreters. Only use a black, approved earpiece. The former grey earpieces must no longer be used. Keep your earpiece away from all microphones at all times. When you are not using your earpiece, place it face down on the sticker placed on the table for this purpose.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of members and witnesses. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the chair.

I would like to welcome our witnesses for the first hour.

We have the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport, and the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs.

From the Department of Transport is Lisa Setlakwe, assistant deputy minister, safety and security.

From the Canada Border Services Agency, we have Aaron McCrorie, vice-president, intelligence and enforcement, and Annie Beauséjour, regional director general, Quebec region.

From the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, we have Tricia Geddes, associate deputy minister, and Talal Dakalbab, senior assistant deputy minister, crime prevention branch, by video conference.

From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are Mr. Bryan Larkin, deputy commissioner, specialized policing services, and Matt Peggs, regional commander, federal policing, central region.

Ministers, I now invite you to make an opening statement of up to five minutes.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

Yes.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I was already recognized.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm raising a point of order, though, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

Yes.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

There's been some confusion about this in the past. I wonder if Ms. O'Connell was raising a point of order or if you're providing her with the floor.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I didn't say “point of order”.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I think there should be some clarity about that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

I'm providing her with the floor, similar to what I did with you at the last meeting.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You're providing her with the floor. Okay, as long as that's clear, that you, as chair, are choosing to provide her with the floor.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

Thank you.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Chair, I move that we resume debate on Mr. Genuis's amendment to the subcommittee report and the subcommittee main motion—the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

Okay, it is so moved.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

If there are no speakers, we can go to a vote.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Chair, I have a point of order. That's a resumption motion, which we vote on immediately. It's a dilatory motion.

If the motion passes, then we don't hear from the ministers; we go into debate. Hopefully, we can hear from the ministers and then resume debate on this at another time, but it's a dilatory motion, so there's no debate on it.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

I have a point of order. If the member wants to speak to it, we can get to a vote and have the ministers speak as scheduled. However, we're resuming debate.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's not a point of order. It's a dilatory motion.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

If the Conservatives want to filibuster to avoid their embarrassment over Bill S-210, that's their prerogative. We want to deal—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I have a point of order. You're not resuming debate. You moved a motion to resume a debate.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Excuse me, do I have the floor, or are you going to just speak over me the entire time?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

No, you don't.

[The Chair, Liberal, Heath MacDonald]

Hold it.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You weren't recognized by the chair, Ms. O'Connell.