Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to begin by thanking you for being here and testifying before us today.
This, as you can well appreciate, is a very important study for us, and a very important initiative. We feel, as a government, and let me just say as a Parliament, that it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our Canadian citizens. Certainly it is critically important for us to identify individuals prior to their entering our country, living in our neighbourhoods, going to school with our kids, and shopping where we shop. It really has become an increasing concern, given the creative ways those who would participate in illicit activity can find to enter our country—by many accounts one of the most welcoming countries in the world in which to live.
I have a number of questions for you. First, in your opinion, under our current system how successful has Canada been at preventing criminals from entering our borders from source countries?
My questions are to all of you. I wouldn't mind hearing from all or some, as you wish.