Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 29th, 2018

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

No, you've ruled them out of order. That's fine.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Could I make one point, Mr. Chair?

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

No.

Mr. Chair, I would like to continue my questions.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Obviously she's only interested in disinformation.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

If the minister would like to table the number of people who have been removed from this country, who have claimed asylum after illegally entering Canada from the United States since the start of 2017, I would be happy to have that information.

However, for the minister to sit here and try to waste the time I have for questions by saying it's “disinformation” because he doesn't have this information, I find that mildly irritating and somewhat insulting. I would invite him, if he would like to make a remark, to say that specific number. Otherwise, he should let me pursue my line of questioning, as is my right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I would just remind the committee that it is not our job to evaluate the quality of an answer. We are to ask hard questions.

I believe the minister has made an undertaking to the committee—

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Absolutely.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

—to provide those numbers. I believe he has made that commitment. I heard it.

I would invite the member to continue.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Chair, as I understand it, the question covered two fiscal years. I want to ensure I have complete data over two fiscal years.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

All right.

Ms. Rempel.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. The minister has the ability to read the minutes of the meeting, as do all of us.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

That is what I said I would do, Mr. Chair.

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

I would like to continue with my line of questions.

The minister's department said they were going to provide this committee with the exact lines of service, that 800 staff members have been redirected to the border, to the Roxham Road issue, from other lines. They have not provided that information. When does the minister anticipate providing that information to committee?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Those are undertakings previously made by officials in their appearances before the committee. I understand the requested information is available and will be tabled shortly with the committee.

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

When?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Either today or tomorrow.

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

Thank you.

Will the minister also provide a similar breakdown of the number of RCMP officers who have been redirected to the Roxham Road border crossing, in terms of details on which lines of activity they work in? Essentially, I'm trying to get an understanding of where resources have been redirected from, to deal with the Roxham Road issue.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

To be clear, the question is with respect to the same information that was earlier requested of CBSA. The member is now making a request for parallel information for the RCMP. Commissioner Lucki is here, she's heard the request and I'm sure she'll respond to it to the very best of her ability, as soon as that data can be tabulated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I need to move to Ms. Kwan. Thank you.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the ministers.

My first question is for the Minister of Immigration. He mentioned that his officials are engaging in a discussion with the United States about the modernization of the safe third country agreement. I'm wondering whether, in those discussions, the government has the raised the issue of the problem being the United States itself. Every time the President utters or tweets some anti-immigrant, anti-refugee rhetoric, it creates a situation and there's a reaction related to that. I wonder whether that has been brought up at the table with our U.S. counterpart.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

The discussions with respect to the safe third country agreement are in the early days. There are no formal negotiations—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Sorry, I'm just going to interrupt here.

My question is whether the minister has raised the issue on the asylum seekers crossing over to Canada as a result of the behaviour of the President of the United States.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

There are no formal negotiations with respect to the safe third country agreement. The discussions are essentially on opportunities to modernize the agreement.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Has there been informal discussion brought up from this government about the issue resting with the behaviour of the President of the United States?