Evidence of meeting #3 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Minister, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police supports it. I would like to believe...
Regardless, I want to move on to something else, if I have time.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Let's talk prevention budgets. When I look at Budget 2010, I see that it does not mention an increase in the budget for prevention anywhere.
The overall budget is really quite confusing; it is hard to see the actual numbers. We are talking $40 million to $60 million, and that has not changed since you have been in power.
A number of public safety ministers—and I am not referring to you—have made different announcements, $30 million here and $15 million there.
What I noticed in speaking with the people at the National Crime Prevention Centre, particularly...
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Your time is up, Ms. Mourani. I'm sorry.
Mr. Davies, please.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Myles Kirvan Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For the main estimates for 2010-11, there's an amount of $64.7 million. It is distributed among the three funds. One is the crime prevention action fund, which is $37.4 million. I think this is the breakdown you were looking for. The other is the northern and aboriginal crime prevention fund, which is the amount of $8 million. The third is the youth gang prevention fund in the amount of $6.1 million. That's a $30 million augmentation to the previous budget.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
Mr. Minister, the previous minister stated on behalf of your government on a number of occasions that people who have serious mental health problems should not be in the federal prison system. Do you agree with this view, and if so, what steps are you taking to make it a reality? If not, why not?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
I think that's a good question.
We have seen an increase of individuals who have mental health problems that need to be addressed. The question is where those problems should be addressed. Obviously if you simply have a mental health issue, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're not criminally responsible and therefore subject to the law.
Our government is concerned about the mental health needs of these offenders. We're working to address offenders' mental health needs through assessment and treatment. I'm proud of the work the Correctional Service of Canada is doing in that respect.
There are challenges, there's no question about that. I think Mr. Head can give you some more details about the programming.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Maybe I'll get that after.
Mr. Minister, as you know, this committee has been undertaking a study of mental health and substance abuse services across the country. We've toured prisons and we've heard from every prison we visited that Corrections Canada has recruitment and retention problems with respect to nurses, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, and substance abuse counsellors who work in our federal prisons. What's your plan to deal with that issue?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
The Government of Canada continues to implement key components of our mental health strategy to provide that continuum of mental health services that are necessary in a federal institution. I think Mr. Head can give us some of those details.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I'm interested in your views, Mr. Minister. I can talk to Mr. Head some other time. Your time is more valuable.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Minister, on a different subject, there have been at least 26 deaths caused by the use of tasers in Canada over the last seven years. Will you be issuing restrictions on this weapon that have been called for by many experts, including Justice Thomas Braidwood, including using them only in cases of imminent harm to officers or the public, and restrictions on where they can be used on the body, how many times they're allowed to be discharged, and for how long?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
The issue of these conducted energy weapons is one that does need to be addressed by government and by police forces. I certainly remember my years in prosecuting before police had tasers, and the option when you were in a physical confrontation was essentially to use either your fists or a gun. I think that in terms of the continuum of force, the conducted energy weapon is a very important tool.
That said, it is important to have very clear guidelines in that respect. The RCMP has specifically amended its policy in respect of conducted energy weapons to restrict their use to circumstances where there are threats to public or officer safety. They have restricted it. I think the RCMP is working with other police forces across Canada to standardize those policies so that the policies are well known. For some of the details on that, perhaps the deputy commissioner can provide them to you.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Okay. Thanks.
You mentioned the issue of RCMP oversight, which has been a long-standing issue. In my province of British Columbia, there have been two high-profile deaths of people in the custody of the RCMP: Robert Dziekanski and Ian Bush. In your government's budget and throne speech, you promised the creation of a new oversight body.
I want to ask you if you'll confirm that this new body will be civilian led and civilian staffed, with the power to investigate and hear public complaints, subpoena witnesses, and compel the production of documents, and that it will be given sufficient money to carry out its mandate. Can you make that commitment to us here today, Mr. Minister?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
As I've indicated, we've committed $8 million over two years on the complaints and review of officers' conduct. That doesn't necessarily relate to some of the more serious issues you've raised, to the deaths. We brought in a policy--and the RCMP just announced that policy--of bringing in other police forces to investigate serious allegations such as serious injuries or death.
In fact, in provinces where they have these stand-alone units.... For example, Ontario has one, Alberta has one, and Manitoba has just passed legislation to have one. That would be an excellent body that would conduct that kind of investigation, which is separate in review from the complaints commission that we're setting up.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Can I ask specifically, Minister, do you agree with the concept that police should not investigate police when it comes to allegations of police misconduct?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
No, I don't agree. Police should investigate police because sometimes they're the ones with the expertise to investigate. You don't want somebody who has no experience or no ability to investigate the police. You need someone.... That's why I support bodies like the Ontario stand-alone unit. It's the SIU, is it?
3:55 p.m.
An hon. member
SIU.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
There's the Alberta one. I had a presentation for about an hour on the Alberta unit, on how it's set up and who heads it. It's actually headed by a former crown attorney or a crown attorney on leave. It's an excellent program. If you ever have the chance to go to Edmonton, hopefully the committee can bring in the individual who heads that up in Alberta. It's an excellent example of how police are investigating police, but at arm's length. They're independent.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Minister, can you tell me of a single case of police being charged as a result of a complaint against the police officer from a death in custody in Canada in the last hundred years?