Public Safety Committee on April 29th, 2010

Evidence of meeting #14 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was privacy.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Briefing on the Passenger Protect Program and the U.S. No-fly List

MPs speaking

Garry Breitkreuz

Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Brent Rathgeber

Also speaking

Gerard McDonald Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport

Superintendent Larry Tremblay Director General, National Security Criminal Operations, National Security Criminal Investigations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Laureen Kinney Director General, Aviation Security Directorate, Department of Transport

Kristina Namiesniowski Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Chantal Bernier Assistant Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Micheal Vonn Policy Director, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association

Roch Tassé National Coordinator, International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Roger Préfontaine

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

I am not certain that I could go so far as to provide those kinds of precise details.

A person who represents a threat or who has already uttered verbal threats towards an airline or concerning a given flight would be considered as a person who represents a threat.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

That is a person who could be considered to be dangerous.

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

It would be a person who has already taken action against someone else and who would have proven they always have the intent and ability to represent a threat.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Are those the only criteria, or are there others?

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

Those are the criteria that I have just defined.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Therefore, it could not be a person who does not have a criminal record.

What is a terrorist organization in your opinion?

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

By definition, it is a group that takes violent action in order to further its own ends or to achieve its goals.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Could you give us an example?

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

An example of violence would be a terrorist attempt or planting a bomb, for religious or political reasons.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

There could therefore be targeting of religious organizations, or organizations—

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

It is not an issue of organizations but of individuals.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

You are talking about individuals who belong to a religious organization.

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

I am talking about individuals who, through their actions, have proven that they represent a threat.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

You were just talking about organizations.

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

It is not the organization—

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

A person who works for or acts on behalf of a religious organization could be targeted.

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

It could be a religious organization or some other organization.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Could unions be targeted?

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

No, unions would not be targeted.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

On the other hand, a union member could be targeted.

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

A person's religious or political affiliation is not a factor. We take into consideration the person's activity, without taking into account their religion, nationality or political allegiance.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

What sort of activity or allegiance might you be talking about?

C/Supt Larry Tremblay

It is not a question of allegiance. Once again, we are referring to a person's activities.

Bloc

Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

For example, a person who has religious beliefs—

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies

Monsieur Desnoyers, I'm sorry, but your time is up. Could you just wrap up very quickly, and then we'll let the witness answer?