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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Blume  Head, Special Quota Project, State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg
Stephen Burt  Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence
Denis Vinette  Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency
Catherine Parish  Director General, Security Screening, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Emmanuelle Lamoureux  Director, Gulf States Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Reid Sirrs  Director General, Mission Security, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

I can't disclose the number of Canadian Forces who are present in northern Iraq.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

You can't tell us?

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

What do they do?

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

The role of the Canadian Forces in advising and assisting the Kurdish peshmerga is fairly well established and a matter of public record. I can't really get into more detail than that.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Maybe you could give me your version.

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

They're working with Kurdish forces to assist them in their fight against Daesh.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Of course, we're talking about assisting Yazidi people and getting them out of there. I guess the question is, what else can we do?

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

I can't speak to that question, sir. All I'm able to speak to is—

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Can anyone else speak to that?

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

—what the current situation is.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

No one wants to speak to that. Okay.

Do we have any air power or any air force people there?

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

Do we have any air force people in northern Iraq?

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Yes.

5:40 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

We have Canadian Forces aircraft that are involved in the campaign in Iraq.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

How many do we have?

5:45 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

I don't know off the top of my head, but we have refuellers, and we have some other aircraft involved still in the campaign.

November 22nd, 2016 / 5:45 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Can anyone else comment on that?

We're into this whole study to find out what Canada can do to help these people. Obviously, it's been made quite clear by all of you that security is a serious issue. We need to know that the staff are safe and that the people we're trying to help are safe, so I'd like you to comment on all that.

Mr. Burt, please comment.

5:45 p.m.

Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Department of National Defence

Stephen Burt

Sir, I can only speak to what I've said already about the overall security situation in northern Iraq. It would really be for policy and operational people within the defence department to speak to what is being done to support IRCC. From what I understand, IRCC is still in the process of elaborating their plan, and until such time as that is put together, they will consult with our operational folks to say what they need from each of us.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Vinette, can you add to that?

5:45 p.m.

Director General, International Region, Canada Border Services Agency

Denis Vinette

No. We're not responsible for any of the on-the-ground, in-theatre security requirements. We work solely from Canada and other countries in the immediate area.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Ms. Lamoureux, would you comment?

5:45 p.m.

Director, Gulf States Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

Emmanuelle Lamoureux

It's the same response. The measures we will put in place will depend on IRCC's plan.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

How about you, Ms. Parish?

5:45 p.m.

Director General, Security Screening, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Catherine Parish

I concur with the comments by my colleagues.