Evidence of meeting #113 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
As I said earlier, we are working very closely with Public Safety, which is the lead on this issue. We'll continue to do that.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Okay.
We'll try another one, Mr. Chairman. It's been reported that members of the notorious MS-13 gang are targeting the Canadian border to set up shop in Canada. What is being done to ensure that these criminals are denied entry into Canada?
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Once again you're mentioning things that are not specific enough, but I will still answer the question to reiterate the importance of—
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
That's all I'm going to ask, Mr. Minister. You do your best. I'm waiting for the answer.
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
We have a very rigorous security screening process at the border. Everyone who crosses our border is subject to very rigorous, comprehensive, and multi-layered security screening. We use biometrics and other databases that we share with our allies, to make sure we have a comprehensive view of who's coming into our country. Anyone who poses a risk to Canadian society is not released into our community. They're immediately detained and put into the removals stream.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
How many of those who have crossed illegally into Canada since 2017 have filed asylum claims?
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We would have to get back with those exact answers. However, our experience has been that the vast majority of those who have crossed have filed asylum claims, and—
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Okay, I'd like to know the number. Could you give them to us, perhaps next week?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
Thank you; that's the end of your time.
If you could table those with the committee, that would be—
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Well, he has an answer, Mr. Chair. Maybe he can give it to us now.
Liberal
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I first want to thank you and your colleagues. This will have been your third appearance in the last two weeks: four hours in committee of the whole last Thursday, one hour on Tuesday, and one hour today. I can appreciate the amount of work that is involved in preparing for this. I'm almost astonished that you are able to do other work while preparing to appear in front of this committee and the committee of the whole.
I want to pick up on Mr. Tilson's assertion. I would like you to comment on the dangers of generalizing. We often generalize based on minor incidents or one or two media reports. I think there is a danger in how Canadians take that, and I think it's irresponsible for parliamentarians to make those assertions. I'm wondering whether you could—
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
On a point of order, unless my colleague wants to get into a debate on this, he's casting aspersions as to—
Liberal
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Well, you may have the floor, but I have the floor because I have a point of order, so you should settle down.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I'm simply saying, Mr. Chairman, that he's casting aspersions on another member of Parliament with the questions he's asking, and if he wants to get into a debate, I'm pleased to do so.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, I have the ability to ask the minister a particular question.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Yes, but don't refer to me. I'll refer to you, but don't refer to me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I don't believe that's a point of order. It may be a point of privilege, but you asked for a point of order.
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Thank you very much for that intervention, Mr. Anandasangaree. I completely agree with you that as we secure the safety and security of Canadians, we are also proud of the fact that we are a government, with Canadian support, that is ensuring that we meet our international obligation: that we have, as a country, to give due process to those who are claiming asylum.
Unfortunately, the party opposite has chosen, at certain points in their commentary, to make assertions around security that are completely unfounded. I will say that time and again, because the fact of the matter is that we have a very professional and rigorous security screening process that is multi-layered and that ensures that each and every one who crosses our border irregularly is processed and is subjected to a very rigorous security screening process that is able to ensure that not a single person who poses a security risk is released into our community.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, through you, both opposition parties appear to be fearmongering. I think that a number of assertions made in this committee would lead people to believe that Canada is unsecure and also that there are illegal activities going on; that the fact of a person making a refugee claim itself is illegal. I find that to be quite problematic and quite irresponsible.
Minister, could you elaborate—?