Public Safety Committee on Nov. 20th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

I don't think it comes before our committee.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

It doesn't come to us? Okay, fine. That's all right.

Was there some intention or stated intention by Minister Day to reintroduce some legislation—Liberal legislation, I think it was—on oversight?

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

There was a signal sent, but I don't think it has happened yet.

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Actually, I think that's a little premature. There are a couple of other reports out there, the Brown report and some other issues, and I think it will come before the committee before we are too far down the road.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

I'm really not trying to be obtuse here, but what's too far down the road? I realize it's not in my Christmas stocking, but—

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

It would probably be after the new year, because I think the Brown report comes out in December; I think it's scheduled for December.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

I have one more question, just because it would help we know if the information I've received is correct. Was there a working group on setting up a national DNA database, and was it a working group of this committee? Could you share its status with me?

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Mr. MacKenzie.

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would just say to the member that we would like to have that as one of the couple of things we'd like to put forward to the committee. One is the DNA databank and the other is the sex offender information registry.

But I think our priority on this side, as it is for the official opposition, is to clean up the two issues. Our priority, obviously, at this point is Bill C-3, but we'd like to get the witness protection matter cleaned up and then have a clean slate going into the new year.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Thank you.

So the Brown report would be considered part of that oversight? I mean, you're mentioning the report is out there, so do you consider that part of looking at oversight? Are you expecting that to be a recommendation?

[A voice]

It's part of the package, right?

[Philip Rosen]

I can guess, Chair. My guess is that it will feed into whatever legislation the government comes up with. Of course, there was legislation brought in by the former government—and Minister Day has signalled that it's coming—but there are a number of items that feed into it, including the commission of inquiry into the Arar affair, and some other things as well. The Brown report, I guess, is the last piece of the puzzle for the government to put together its policy in that legislation.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

I won't hold my breath, then, too hard, too long.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

There is going to be so much before this committee, it's going to be difficult to get our priorities here.

I wasn't listening with both ears here. You mentioned the DNA. What was the second thing?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

The sex offender.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Okay. Those are the two things the minister has asked.... That would be mandated by the legislation that we review this.

I think next on the list is Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

No offence to Ms. Priddy, but I really think we want to do what we were working on. I don't want to lose track of that, because witness protection has a great deal to do with not only Air India but perhaps some things that may occur in our country at later times. We had some problems that were identified by witnesses with some things that we needed to.... I think we have a fairly good system, but there were some good ideas that we should incorporate into the one we have now. If we get involved in other things, we're going to lose some of that, and it's not good to lose momentum. Let's deal with one thing at a time.

We all have our personal agendas, but let's deal with those two items, and then we can decide as a committee what next we want to deal with.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Mr. Dosanjh, you're next.

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I think in that spirit I recognize that witness protection and the security certificate legislation are the priorities.

We may not have any more time, but I want to put several things on the record for my colleague, Roy Cullen, who is not here. There are several things that he'd like us to study. One is the fairness initiative with respect to the CBSA, and the other issue is the cost-recovery program that CBSA has. The third issue is generally, in relation to the Canada border service and our border with the United States, how well we are doing. These are obviously very large issues, and we may not get to them.

There is an issue that I also want to put on the agenda by way of a motion, and I'll tell you, it's obviously for study as well. It has to do with Mr. Dziekanski and his tragedy: to invite representatives of the CBSA, the RCMP, the Vancouver Airport Authority, and others to make presentations so we can study the issue as a committee. Others are studying it, but I think we have an obligation to study the issue.

Anyway, I'll put that forward as a motion. I just thought I'd tell you that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

We're getting a little more here than we're going to be able to do.

Yes, Ms. Priddy.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Thank you.

I just wanted to respond to Mr. Norlock. None of the items I asked about are particular personal priorities of mine; they are just issues that people told me might be outstanding. I was just trying to clarify where they were with the committee. I wasn't suggesting the committee redirect its work; I was just trying to receive clarification on the status, not to influence the committee to a personal priority.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

You're referring to the three you brought forward previously?

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Ménard.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

I see that everyone has their suggestions. I was only making the one that is most urgent for me, that is a meeting with the new RCMP Commissioner. I have another suggestion. Cigarette smuggling is more serious than ever. It is dramatic in Ontario and in Quebec where the second highest number of cigarettes are sold...We cannot really say smuggled cigarettes because they do not come from the United States; they come from Canadian manufacturers who do not pay duty. Most of these operations are on native reserves. I am not just worried about the loss of $1.6 billion in taxes. Doctors who work in the area of tobacco addiction are noticing that progress is no longer being made, particularly among young people. They can get hold of contraband cigarettes too easily, and it does not seem to me that the RCMP is making the effort it should.

There are also things that will take a little less time. I do not know if other members are getting the same requests in their constituencies, but there is an incredible increase in the number of people who, for some reason or other, need a certificate saying that they have no criminal record in order to get a government job, or any job. It can take up to 18 months or even two years to get a certificate saying that one has no criminal record. Many of them are young people. I would like to get a better understanding of this problem.

As to the suggestion from the member for Vancouver South, I think it is a good one, but unfortunately there are a large number of issues that we want to address. I became interested in knowing more about this famous taser so I went to the Library of Parliament. I noticed that a number of studies came to conclusions that I do not want to list here.The attorney general of British Columbia has made the right decision: a public inquiry on the use of this weapon. Our procedures are also completely different from those of a commission of inquiry. Really, the best way to get to the bottom of the problem is to leave it to a judge or a commissioner, who can conduct an inquiry, write a report and who will have the opportunity to consider all the other studies already done on the taser. So the matter is no longer pressing for us, given the other matters we need to come to grips with.

I am telling you that contraband cigarettes are having disastrous effects in British Columbia and everywhere. Probably only one House committee can wake up the organizations who can fight against it. There is not just the RCMP, there are other organizations who, for $5,000, issue permits to tobacco manufacturers who set up shop with no controls. A House committee can have an impact on the needed changes.

I am not making a lot of suggestions. For me, the top priority is to meet Mr. Elliott. I think that we should also come to grips with cigarette smuggling. Thank you.