Evidence of meeting #21 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was person.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
And children and families are able to visit in the trailer with the individual you're holding?
10 a.m.
Liberal
10 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
So you've seen ahead of time that the trailer had air conditioning or heat or was--
10 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Until the point in time that they went on strike, had you done nothing about it? They went on a hunger strike this year.
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
There's a system in place for when they would like to change their conditions; they can be brought to our attention and they'll be resolved.
May I just point out that air conditioning in the particular set-up that was there was very challenging. It was not something that could be done from one day to the next; it was done as soon as we practically could.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
They had to go on a hunger strike to get air conditioning and phone service.
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
We do not encourage hunger strikes that--
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm sorry, did they have to go on a hunger strike, yes or no? Answer my question to the point.
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
My understanding is that yes, they did go on a hunger strike.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Your understanding? So the facts that I have in front of me here are your understanding?
Let's make this perfectly clear. Did they have to go on a hunger strike? Don't give me your understanding. Did they have to go on a hunger strike to get--
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
We did not force anyone to go on a hunger strike. That was their choice--
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Order.
It seems to me, Mr. Karygiannis, that you're being belligerent with the witness. I would like the witness to be given every opportunity to answer the questions.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Well, if the witness answered the question to the point--
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I would please ask you to allow the witnesses to have whatever time they need to answer without interruption.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
They did go on a hunger strike before they were given air conditioning and a phone--yes?
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
I can't tell you exactly at what point they went on a hunger strike, because they do happen regularly, but I can tell you that there is a mechanism in place, a redress mechanism, to resolve issues that need to be brought to our attention.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
They may have been. I don't have that information in front of me.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Let me tell you, then, that the hunger strike ended on June 28, after achieving their objectives. Am I correct?
10:05 a.m.
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
They go on hunger strikes regularly.