Public Accounts Committee on March 5th, 2024

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

We have a beautiful facility in Lansdowne, which I know you've seen. It needs more people, though.

Technology that's operated by officers includes X-ray scanners. How many X-ray scanners could be purchased with $60 million?

[Mark Weber]

I wouldn't have those numbers. We can find out and provide that to you.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thank you very much.

These X-ray scanners are important for detecting drugs and weapons and even for vehicles, which of course are a hot topic.

As for detector dogs and dog handlers, that's an investment the Trudeau government could have made. That's a technology that can pay for itself—for example, in detecting currency. Is that right?

[Mark Weber]

Absolutely, our canine teams are vital to what we do. We're short of those as well, just like we're short of officers. Definitely, the money could have been put towards that, yes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I just want to be clear. With $60 million spent on this app, you won't be surprised to hear from me that I don't think it's money well spent. The Auditor General said that it wasn't good value for Canadians' money.

I've heard from your members that it has frustrated them in their ability to professionally execute their responsibility to protect our country. Do you think this money should continue to be invested in this app, or should this money be diverted into human resources in the form of frontline border service officers?

[Mark Weber]

Absolutely, the money needs to go toward border service officers. We can do absolutely the full gamut of what's needed at the border, including keeping our communities safe. The technologies we have, such as ArriveCAN, simply do not do that.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

You've seen all kinds of committees. You were at committee 18 months ago. I think Mrs. Block said it was government operations. We've had past and present heads of the CBSA. Do you think they're listening?

[Mark Weber]

I hope they are. It's certainly not for a lack of my repeating it over and over.

I think there is a definite disconnect. I spoke to this earlier too. The upper levels of CBSA management rarely if ever have come from the front line. I'm often having to show or explain to people who have never worked at a border exactly what the gaps are at the border, which can often be an uphill climb.

I've had many talks with the current CBSA president. I had hoped there was some listening happening there, but the situation on our front lines at most of our ports of entry is quite dire.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Is the Minister of Public Safety failing frontline CBSA border service officers?

[Mark Weber]

In terms of not having enough of us there, I would say there is a definite failure, yes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you very much. That's spot-on.

Ms. Khalid, you have the floor for five minutes, please.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Thanks very much, Chair.

I find the line of questioning by my Conservative friend here very interesting, because just this past December he voted against giving more funding to the CBSA so they could perform their jobs at the border and be safe in how they do that.

Regardless, Mr. Weber, can you tell us what the nature of your job is and what the nature of your union is? How do you support your workers?

[Mark Weber]

I'm the president of the union, and we support our workers in representing them—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair. I apologize for interrupting the witness.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Go ahead, Mr. Barrett.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

On the issue raised by Ms. Khalid—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

This does not sound like a point of order—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

—I was happy to vote non-confidence in the government—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you, Mr. Barrett.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

—just like those border service officers don't seem to have confidence.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

No, not at all—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I've told all of you that I'm extending the time—

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

You voted against the CBSA and funding the CBSA.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

If you all interrupt me—