Evidence of meeting #40 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 ircc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Sirrs, could I have you speak so that we can have it on the record, with the same response?
5:25 p.m.
Director General, Mission Security, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Yes.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
With respect to the security concerns, I'm glad to hear from all the departments that you can help the government deliver on this important initiative. We heard from the German officials that security concerns can be overcome within northern Iraq, particularly for the second phase.
Just further on that question, please comment on whether your department has been in touch with the German officials around the challenges they face and how they have managed to overcome those security challenges.
5:25 p.m.
Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence
My department is not in touch with the German officials with regard to issues around this situation. We are in touch with German officials on a regular basis with regard to the overall anti-Daesh campaign, but on this particular issue, we are not in touch with them at the moment.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Further on that, we've heard from the government time and time again at different sessions about the difficulties around the security issues with northern Iraq. Particularly in northern Iraq, there are refugees who are part of the Syrian refugee initiative whose applications cannot be processed by the government because there's no processing centre there, and there are issues of security.
I think I heard Ms. Lamoureux say that there is one part of Iraq that is pretty safe to enter, and that was Dohuk. Are there any other areas where it is pretty safe to get in?
5:30 p.m.
Director, Gulf States Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
At the moment, the one area we've identified that includes a significant Yazidi population and that would be safer is Dohuk.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I see.
Beyond the Yazidi population, but for other Syrian refugees within northern Iraq, are there any other locations where it is safe or safer to get in?
5:30 p.m.
Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence
From the larger perspective of what we're watching here, there are areas within which as a military we are able to operate to conduct military operations. There are areas in which other government officials have been able to move people in to be able to do their business. I'm confident that IRCC will be able to speak to what their specific plans are and how they will secure what they need to do and what they intend to do, but I would caution the committee that nothing in this region is safe. There are major security risks throughout the region, and even with the best efforts to secure what is going on there, including by people who are armed and participating in the conflict, bad things happen every day. There are areas that are more secure one moment, but that can change very quickly. Even with the fall of Daesh, we will see an ongoing terrorist activity across this region.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Fair enough. I think I understand that, and I think there are always challenges within that context. What you're saying is that those security challenges can be overcome in the best capacity that you have, and that it is doable.
5:30 p.m.
Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence
Those security challenges are managed and mitigated to the extent possible.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much.
With respect to operations, how quickly can you mobilize your team, if the government were to say tomorrow that we're going to target 1,000 Yazidis? How quickly can you mobilize your team to be able to do this? We'll go down the line.
5:30 p.m.
Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence
I can't speak to that. It's not my area.
5:30 p.m.
Director General, Security Screening, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
We would obviously respond with our colleagues in terms of referrals provided by IRCC. As and when they are ready to provide the applicants for screening, then we would be readily available.
5:30 p.m.
Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
There are three fronts. We're pre-positioned on all fronts, but on the first one, we already have liaison officers in theatre. We have other ready-to-deploy resources available to go and support the effort as we did for Syria, so we're ready to go on that front.
On the screening front, again, we've already pre-positioned and we've built up the capacity to receive the referrals from IRCC and conduct the security screening.
The third front is the reception piece. On their arrival in Canada, it's ensuring we're set up so we can receive them and we have the process laid out. They typically arrive in Montreal or Toronto, in larger centres.
5:30 p.m.
Director, Gulf States Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
I have described the resources we have already on the ground. Those resources are fully mobilized, both in Erbil and in Baghdad.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much.
In terms of the processing, in the interviewing process, is it possible to utilize video conferencing or other technology to do this work?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
It's certainly possible. IRCC begins the process. They are the primary interviewer. We're the recipient of that information. There's certainly an ability to do that.
In that particular corner of the world, that remains to be seen. I don't have the actual knowledge of that.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
5:30 p.m.
Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
In that specific geographic area, I can't speak to whether there's sufficient infrastructure to allow it.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
If the infrastructure is in place, then is that possible from a security standpoint?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
For us, it's a question of receiving the right information and being able to have the right interview. Technology's an enabler, and certainly we look at how we can make use of it.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much.
In terms of operations for this special initiative, are additional resources given to your department to carry out this important project, or is that coming out of your existing budget?
5:35 p.m.
Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
On the basis of the current outlined effort, we are pre-positioning ourselves and positioning our resources from within, so we are ready to rededicate and repurpose existing resources for the time being.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thanks to all of you for coming tonight and providing the input to us.
My first question would be to Mr. Burt and Ms. Parish. At what point in the process will security concerns be highest for our officials, as well as the Yazidis? Will it be the travel there, or travel back, or the Yazidi settlement itself?
