Evidence of meeting #64 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was inadmissible.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate that there may be some disagreements about the issue of relevance. The point I made at the beginning was that the use of intelligence assessments is critical for sanctions, and the minister made that point himself. I'm curious about who sees intelligence assessments, because those are the inputs for decisions about sanctions.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
On that point of order, Mr. Chair, the reality is that, as the minister has explained, the actual functioning of the sanctions, both on who is sanctioned and how they are delisted from sanctions, is not the responsibility of this minister. It's the responsibility of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This activity is about stopping people who are sanctioned from getting into Canada, which has been a call from all opposition parties, as well as the government party, to ensure that our sanctions regime is robust enough to make sure that people are inadmissible.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
We are now getting into debate.
Mr. Genuis, please bear in mind that we're trying to remain focused on Bill S-8. You have a minute and 54 seconds remaining.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, out of courtesy for you, having asked the question, I wonder if you're interested in answering it or not. If you'd like to address it—
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I have a point of order. I don't know how many times you, as chair, need to repeat yourself for us to actually get it in our heads about this line of questioning.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Can I not offer the courtesy to the minister to respond to what's already in the public record?
Liberal
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Chair, I think the question I'm asking is relevant. It's about intelligence assessments that can then be used for sanctions—
Conservative
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, do you have any comment you want to make, one way or the other, on the foregoing discussion?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Genuis, I think I've been pretty forthright in answering the question that you've posed now a few times.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I don't agree, but the public will judge, I suppose. Is there anybody in your office who you can say 100% of the time reads the intelligence assessments that come through?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
I believe you asked that question on a couple of occasions earlier in this hour, and you have my answers on that.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I'm sorry. No, I don't, but if I do, could you repeat it? Is there anyone in your office of whom you can say with certainty that they read 100% of the intelligence assessments that come through?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Yes. I explained that the combination of the officials who work within the deputy minister's office and my ministerial office will take a look at those reports and then prioritize what gets sent to me, either directly through the report, or through a summary, or through a verbal briefing.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay. Who is the exempt staffer of whom you can say they read 100% of the intelligence assessments?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Chair, again, I've answered these questions and will continue—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I think you said your chief of staff. Is it correct that your chief of staff sees every single one?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Yes, very specifically, Mr. Genuis. You've asked those questions now on numerous occasions. I think you're attempting to portray that I'm being evasive.