Public Safety Committee on May 1st, 2014

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you, Minister.

I now give the floor to Ms. Doré Lefebvre for five minutes.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister for being with us today. I also thank all the other witnesses who came to speak about the government's main estimates. Your presence is greatly appreciated.

I would like to talk to you about a topic that has come back into the news over the past few days. This is quite a difficult subject that concerns all of us; I am referring to the missing or murdered aboriginal women.

At this time, several sources have stated that there are hundreds of missing or murdered aboriginal women, as we thought initially. We are hearing now that there are more than a thousand missing or murdered women.

Minister, are you considering launching a national inquiry to shed light on the issue of missing or murdered aboriginal women?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

No, because I think it is more effective to take concrete action rather than conducting other studies that will cause us to go around in circles.

However, I can tell you, regarding this topic which I agree must be taken seriously, that in the last budget an additional $25 million was set aside for the particular issues aboriginal people experience, in particular missing aboriginal women.

The Minister of Status of Women will be in charge of that exercise but I am working in close cooperation with her, since we are concerned in various ways, either as regards public safety via prevention programs we have already put in place, or RCMP programs. Perhaps the commissioner can enlighten you further on this during the second hour of your meeting.

I nevertheless want to inform you that the RCMP is currently working on determining the number of missing and murdered persons in Canada, and through its advanced research was able to divide up the information according to the nature of people who had been reported missing.

The commissioner informed me that next month he will be able to disclose this data. It will be a tool that will help in the extremely important decisions that will have to be taken concerning the implementation of the strategy.

Knowing these details is important since it will allow us to define the problems and determine the appropriate approaches. That is why this data will also be used to guide the actions of the RCMP, not only regarding aboriginal persons, but also all other missing or murdered persons.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

If I am not mistaken, the RCMP was to table a report on this on March 31. If I understand correctly, this report is not complete. When it is, will you make it available to the members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Absolutely.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Very well.

The report should be complete next month. The data will then be made available to us and made public, is that the case?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Correct. As I indicated, it is a tool that will help in decision making and allow us to better understand the issue and better target the measures that will be taken.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I would now like to discuss a completely different topic.

I have already spoken to the former Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. In fact, our committee did a study on harassment within the RCMP.

During your last appearance before the committee you stated that the 2013-2014 budget contained a net increase of $4.7 million for the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, and that a part of that amount will go to funding new components of the civil commission which examines and deals with complaints about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

We all feel that a change of culture is necessary within the RCMP. I think we have all examined the issue well in the framework of our study of Bill C-42 and we are all aware of the problems, in particular the harassment cases within the RCMP.

I wonder if you could give us a status report on your policy regarding harassment in the RCMP. Are all of the elements you mentioned when you last appeared before the committee in place? In addition, is the RCMP making progress in its processing of sexual harassment cases, among others?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you for that question.

In June 2013, Bill C-42 received royal assent. That was almost a year ago. As you mentioned, this bill strengthens the responsibility of the RCMP by creating the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP. This consolidates the oversight role of the commission. We take this issue seriously.

I will invite Commissioner Paulson to speak in greater detail about the measures adopted by the RCMP. I think he is in a better position than I to answer your question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

It would have to be very brief at this point.

Let's save it for another round then. Thank you very much, Mr. Paulson.

Now we will go to Mr. Payne for five minutes

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for coming. Thank you to the department heads for coming.

I just want to make a brief comment.

Minister, you talked about the disaster financial assistance. Of course, most Canadians don't realize that, in fact, the federal government pays up to 90%. The city of Medicine Hat and that area were impacted by those floods, so I totally understand what's going on there. I think we're doing the right thing to try to make sure we can recoup the losses that our citizens have had.

I actually have a couple of questions, Minister.

We often hear about cybersecurity and breaches and about other organizations or countries potentially trying to attack whatever organizations across the world. I'm wondering if you can update us on the implementation of Canada's cybersecurity strategy.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Yes.

Absolutely, Mr. Payne. We have a three-pillar approach. The first one is cleaning our own house, which is the government. It is to make sure the government is immune to a cyberattack. We have seen that this is a challenge that we have to take very seriously in an environment where there are many threats, whether from individual hackers or a more structured approach.

The second pillar is working with the private sector. That's why, along with my deputy minister and the former minister, John Manley, we are working with key stakeholders and leaders in the industry, so that we can develop an approach. We already have a cybersecurity critical infrastructure centre. We are seeking to ramp it up, so that our nation is better prepared as we face constant and increasing threats in terms of cyberattacks.

The first stream is the government working with the private sector, as well, I would say, empowering individuals. Although it may seem very basic, security is basic. Fastening a seat belt is basic, but it saves lives. This is the same thing, like having a password on your BlackBerry, or if you receive an email from your bank asking for your personal data, maybe people should think twice because they already have that data and this is phishing.

We have put in place some initiatives that are reaching out, not only to adults but also to youth. I would say that our cybersecurity strategy goes a little bit on the cyberbullying, because there is some link, and when you share information you can attend to your own safety.

We are experiencing relative success. That is why we are seeking to move forward. Since 2010, we have already invested $244 million in Canada's cybersecurity strategy to mitigate, detect, and respond to cyber-incidents. In the current main estimates, there is a total of $9.6 million for cybersecurity activities.

This is certainly a priority as we see threats in the cyber-environment.

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Thank you, Minister. There's another issue that I know a number of my constituents have been concerned about, and that's radicalization. Quite often in the papers we see that there are individuals here in Canada who actually return to Middle Eastern countries and partake in what we believe to be some terrorist activities.

I am wondering if you could fill us in on what is going on, and what our government is doing in terms of the radicalization and trying to track these individuals who are leaving the country and potentially coming back.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Minister, I realize this could be a lengthy answer but could you make it very brief, please.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

We have young Canadians who are going to Syria to fight or to be trained. When they are out there, they are a threat. So this is a Canadian problem. When they come back, this is an even bigger threat.

We need to tackle this. That is why we have established a round table. This is an issue. We are working with other countries. I invite you to ask Mr. Coulombe to elaborate on this.

This is a serious matter. It is a serious concern. But this is a Canadian problem, and we need to find a Canadian solution to it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, Minister. We will now go to Mr. Rousseau.

Mr. Rousseau, you have the floor. You have five minutes.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for being here, Minister.

My first question is on the Canada Border Services Agency.

Budget 2014-2015 does not seem to have had much of an effect on it as compared to the 2013-2014 one. However, on the ground needs sometimes seem quite acute. For instance, there are six border posts in my riding. There was the case of the illegal immigrants who entered at Stanstead, which lasted almost five years.

Whenever we go and see officers in the field, they talk about the lack of resources, in particular technological and human resources, since for a few years they have seen that when a person retires or is assigned elsewhere he or she is not replaced.

How can the Canada Border Services Agency continue to ensure security when its budget stays more or less the same from one year to the next?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you for your question.

To answer it directly, there was an increase of 3% to a substantive budget of $1.736 billion. As you know, we increased by 26% the number of inspectors at the Border Services Agency.

I think your question touches on an important issue. Over the past decade, we saw the emergence of an agency that is occupying an increasingly large place in the life of Canadians, be it at borders or in controlling illegal immigrants. Canada Border Services Agency is called on to play an increasingly high profile role. Indeed, it celebrated the 10th anniversary of its creation. As you know, although we also have the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, the Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Immigration Act.

To get back to border posts, no changes are necessarily planned regarding their hours of business. Of course, we continue to put resources in place. The Agency has many draws on it be it to ensure the free circulation of goods at border posts or to intercept dangerous and illegal goods or drugs.

To get back to yesterday's example the seizure that was made in cooperation with the Sûreté du Québec, one sometimes has the impression that the cat cannot jump on the mouse because the mouse is running, but when the cat uses its claws, it hurts. That is all of the more true when the Agency in cooperation with other agencies targets its activities to attack the heads of a network. We saw the results. So at the Border Services Agency there is an increase in the budget and a consolidation of its activities.

We know that border services officers are now armed. We also note an increase in traffic at borders. How can we manage an increase in air traffic while maintaining an interesting client experience in airports? In other words, we have to determine how to allow the honest citizen, those passengers, to circulate freely while being able through various mechanisms to intercept undesirable individuals.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Thank you, Minister.

You referred to operations conducted with the Sûreté du Québec. One of the discussions I have had with the Sûreté du Québec in my riding involved the surveillance of the Great Lakes. We have Lake Memphrémagog and in a neighbouring riding there is Lake Champlain.

The Sûreté du Québec seems to say that it is the RCMP that should patrol these two bodies of water, since its means have been severely curtailed over the past few years. The organized crime networks use speed boats. These are vehicles that neither the Sûreté du Québec nor the RCMP are able to chase.

I would like to know if funds have been allocated specifically to surveillance activities for these lakes? As I was saying, there are two large lakes in the Eastern Townships alone.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Yes, absolutely.

Regarding the 2014 budget, we would have liked to receive your support for additional sums to combat drug trafficking at the borders.

As you know some sums were set aside in budget 2014. I am talking here about an amount of several tens of millions of dollars, which was increased. We also indexed taxes on cigarettes, which had not been indexed for some time. These additional sums are allocated to improving border surveillance.

I think you are well aware that the surveillance of border posts is done by the Canada Border Services Agency of Canada, whereas the surveillance of borders is done by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In that regard additional sources are set aside for this year and will be integrated in the request we are submitting this afternoon.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

That's fine.

Thank you very much, Minister. We've finished our first hour now, and we certainly thank you very much for your attendance.

We will suspend for one minute while you make your arrangements and leave, and then we'll go right back to our questioning of our remaining witnesses. We will be starting off with Mr. Maguire, who will be followed by Mr. Garrison.

We'll suspend for one minute.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

We're back in session.

I thank our remaining witnesses. We certainly appreciate your attention to the first hour as well as your staying here for the rest of the time.

Colleagues, we will stay on five-minute rounds, as we of course will be cutting the meeting short by about 10 minutes in order for us to get our votes in prior to this for the remaining time. We have about 50 minutes left with our guests. We will simply start right off the bat now.

We will go to Mr. Maguire.

Yes? Is there a point of order?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

We're doing another round of questions. Do we not start back at seven-minute rounds?

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

We can start back with seven-minute rounds if you think....

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I think that's best. Thank you, Mr. Chair.