Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 3rd, 2018

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

No later.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

“no later than the 15th of the month”

(Amendment agreed to)

Now, on the motion itself as amended.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Chair, on a point of clarification, would the members opposite say that this is increasing the transparency of government, and openness, hope, and real change?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Ms. Rempel, would you like to speak to the motion?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'm fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Okay.

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

I'm going to take a brief pause while I assess the speakers order.

Mr. Maguire will continue, and you have about three minutes.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.

Mr. Cloutier, about seven months ago, I asked for the number of individuals who have been issued a deportation order by the CBSA, and I haven't seen the number yet. I wonder if that's available.

[Jacques Cloutier]

Sorry, I'm surprised. I was under the understanding that all of those numbers had been provided to the committee.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

I'm wondering how many arrest warrants the CBSA has issued in past two years to individuals failing to appear for a removal interview or a scheduled removal date.

[Jacques Cloutier]

I can't break it down right now by those two categories, but I can certainly get back to you with a full answer on this.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Can you table that for us?

[Jacques Cloutier]

Indeed, yes.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

In the past two years, out of the arrest warrants that the CBSA issued, how many specifically involved individuals you would deem as so-called irregular arrivals?

[Jacques Cloutier]

Over the past two years? That number would be very small, if it exists. I'll table an answer.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you.

There's been a directive issued to help parliamentarians better understand what's transpiring on the ground. Are you permitting CBSA officers to talk to members of Parliament specifically about how the CBSA is dealing with these illegal border crises?

[Jacques Cloutier]

Any member of Parliament can have any conversation with officers of the agency or, indeed, public servants. We would never prevent an interaction such as the one you described.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Has there been a directive, though, issued by CBSA employees, to not talk publicly about these so-called irregular arrivals unless they are designated by a spokesperson?

[Jacques Cloutier]

The directive that was issued is, in fact, a reminder that all public servants are to use media relation officers and media officers in each of the departments for official communications that reflect the policy of the department in support of the government.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Yes, but we know through media reports that some CBSA front-line officers have serious concerns about what's transpiring with the influx of illegal border crossings, and it's imperative that this committee get a fulsome picture, as we've just pointed out, of what is happening, and the government must be transparent—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Michelle Rempel]

Mr. Maguire. I unfortunately have to end your time and move to Mr. Anandasangaree.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My question is with respect to the RCMP and CBSA. I just want to make sure about people crossing the border. Are they being detained, are they being arrested, or what's the legal status in terms of the RCMP's enforcement of those [Inaudible--Editor]?

[Inspector Jamie Solesme, Superintendent, Federal Policing, Criminal Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

The individuals are arrested under the Customs Act and, as such, they are detained while we do our preliminary risk assessment. Once that is complete and we have no concerns, they are turned over to CBSA.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Are any of them held in detention for longer than...?

[Insp Jamie Solesme]

If there's an indication that we need to do further inquiries, the person will be kept in RCMP custody until those inquiries take place in order to meet the due diligence of the preliminary risk assessment.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Can you confirm if the national directive on the detention and housing of minors, as given by the Minister of Public Safety, is being adhered to?