Evidence of meeting #44 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
The clock on the wall is obviously broken then. How long has it been, sir?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
It was four minutes and 45 seconds when you opened your mouth.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
I have given you plenty of time on your side for your questions. Now you're using up government time. I don't think that's fair, sir.
Anyway, go ahead, Mr. Hawn.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Just to wrap up a quick question, is there a feeling for when the commissioner would be comfortable with the experience level being back up to what would make detachments comfortable out in Rubber Boot, Saskatchewan, or wherever?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
All police forces, including the RCMP, are experiencing the loss of seniority, but the RCMP has plans to address that, and after I've gone, the RCMP commissioner can address that.
That was 13 seconds, Chair.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Thank you.
You can have a short.... They took over a minute from your time.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Commissioner Beverley A. Busson Royal Canadian Mounted Police
In addition to what the minister said, over the next three years we will be addressing the vacancy pattern, and during that time, of course, seniority increases. We have a very good level of comfort that in the next few years the vacancy pattern will be at zero and the plan to continue with the federal group of experienced police officers will fall into place.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
That ends the second round. We'll now move to the third round.
Ms. Barnes.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Thank you very much.
I'll just ask if you could send on to us from the public safety blue book, page 41, policing and law enforcement.... It falls to $32 million from $38 million, a $6 million cut. I would like to have in writing what was cut out of that budget.
Also, from the border guards, under page 41, we've had an explosion of costs, from $94 million under science and technology-based innovation to $378 million. I would like you to outline that in writing so all of the members can get it.
I'll just pass my questioning time to Mr. Turner, who has a very important question.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Thank you.
Minister, yes or no, do we have correctional officials in Afghanistan now?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Yes, we do. We have two. Given the fact that the facilities are open to us and open to those officers, we are sending two more. We had a considerable number of people--I think it was a credit to our corrections officers--who volunteered to go.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
They have visited three facilities, a total of 19 visits, and they have assurance that it's an open door policy. They've been experiencing that personally, from my discussion with one of those officers. They're also allowed to see the registry and also the suspected terrorists who are there.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Have you been there, or are you going there, or will you be visiting these facilities?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
I have been to Afghanistan. I was there a little over a month ago. I met with one of our officers there. The particular day I was due to go to the facility it had been targeted by some of these terrorists, and I wasn't going to put at risk our soldiers so I could have the visit there. So I haven't been there yet. I'd like to get there, but our officers do have access to those facilities.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Have you received reports on conditions there that satisfy you?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
The reports I've received indicate that these are third world-type prisons. That would reflect what we've seen in media reports. These are not facilities that would meet Canadian standards. The facilities, however, are meeting basic needs. Although none of us would want to be in those facilities, we see improvements, and our officers there prepare reports that they give to the administration. Specifically mentioned to me were the acquisition of blankets, for instance; to make sure that the meals are regularized—