Citizenship and Immigration Committee on April 26th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #31 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was system.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Dawn Edlund Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Jennifer Irish Director, Asylum Policy and Programs, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Les Linklater Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Daniel Thérrien Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice
- Michael MacDonald Director General, National Security Operations Directorate, Public Safety Canada
4:50 p.m.
NDP
The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) Jinny Sims
We gave you a few more seconds there.
Now I would like to hand it over to Mr. Giguère.
April 26th, 2012 / 4:50 p.m.
NDP
Alain Giguère Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Good afternoon, Mr. Minister.
I would like to thank the committee for allowing me to ask these questions.
Right now, we have a detention centre in my city, in Laval. I have a lot of questions about it. Have you had the opportunity to visit this detention centre in Laval?
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB
Not yet, but I intend to, since your colleague encouraged me to do so. I am planning to go.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Alain Giguère Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Very well.
I just heard that my colleague Mr. Leung was able to visit a detention centre rather quickly. Would we be able to have quick access to the detention centre in Laval? It would be relevant if we needed to ask questions.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB
Yes, as members of Parliament, I am sure that the office of the Minister of Public Safety and the CBSA can arrange for access to the detention centre.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Alain Giguère Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Thank you very much.
The Canada Border Services Agency did some studies showing that the changes to Canadian legislation will increase detention and the deportation of bogus refugees, while changing the mandate of the refugee board.
Mr. Minister, based on your estimates, how many additional detentions will this new legislation entail?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB
There are two parts to the bill. In terms of the asylum system, we don't think that there will be an increase in the percentage of claimants who will be in detention. In other words, the percentage will stay the same.
As for the smuggling of illegal refugees, it is hard to predict, because we don't know how many immigrants will arrive under circumstances designated illegal.
Would CBSA like to complement that answer on detention?
4:55 p.m.
Director General, National Security Operations Directorate, Public Safety Canada
What the minister is saying is correct. Canada overall has a multi-phased approach to combatting human smuggling and the criminal networks overseas, and that whole idea is built on the pillar of prevention.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Alain Giguère Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I am sorry, but you are not answering my question. I don't have much time and I cannot listen to a speech.
What is the expected increase? Can you tell us how many new detainees there will be?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB
We have estimates for the number of people who will be in detention under the new system. We can provide you with the figure, but I don't have it with me right now.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Alain Giguère Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
What will happen if the number of detainees is greater than the number of spots available in the detention centres for immigrants? Is there a plan to send them somewhere else?