Oh, oh!
Evidence of meeting #62 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #62 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:20 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:20 a.m.
NDP
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
No. The minister talks out the time and gives these long soliloquies about his past in the province.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I want to know why this budget doesn't have another dollar for mental health or addictions. That's the question--not how we got to this stage.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
There is your question posed. That will be all for you.
Mr. Toews, please.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Thank you very much.
As I've indicated, what has been happening, then, is the development of a parallel mental health system inside the provincial jails and inside the federal prison system.
In terms of the resources we are providing, Mr. Head can discuss that, but I can assure the committee members that it is a significant amount of money over a number of years.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Well, there's no new money in this budget, and I guess that's the answer the minister doesn't want to say.
Now I want to talk also--
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
--about the budget.
In this budget, Mr. Chair, there is no funding for a single new police officer in any of the municipalities in Canada.
I want to ask the minister, does he think there are sufficient police officers in the major cities in this country?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Well, in fact, let's take a look at some of the steps we have taken in policing. In terms of the RCMP, for example, we've had the highest amount of recruitment in decades, and the highest number of police officers on the street in Canada today, than ever before.... I don't have the statistics right in front of me, but those are statistics I've mentioned on other occasions, on the number of police officers that are now on the streets.
Mr. Chair, it's not simply an issue of the number of police officers on the street. It's also ensuring that the laws are responsive to the law enforcement efforts of these police officers. It doesn't matter how many police officers you have on the streets if the next day the laws simply release these individuals who are arrested.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Well, Mr. Chair, I think that's where we differ. I think it does matter how many police officers we have on the streets.
Now, I notice in the budget that the budget for emergency preparedness is being cut by $26.1 million. That's 5.9%. Given the events in Japan, where we see the devastating effects of an earthquake, and given that in my home province of British Columbia, where we sit on a seismic zone...and in fact, the minister actually said there was a tsunami warning on and then it was off.
Can the minister tell us why he is cutting $26.1 million from emergency preparedness at a time when we should be bolstering our emergency preparedness in this country?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Just to correct the record, Mr. Chair, I've never said that the number of police officers on the street isn't important. It is very important. What is equally if not as important is the fact that you have to have legislation that is enforceable and actually keeps prisoners behind bars.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
In respect of the specific question, I can leave that to Mr. Baker.
March 24th, 2011 / 9:25 a.m.
William V. Baker Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety
Mr. Chair, the main estimates are indeed reflecting a reduction in the funding for emergency management. Part of this, $2 million, is actually a technical adjustment; the money is being transferred to Public Works and Government Services, but it is still with respect to emergency management.
There are also some sunsetting provisions on particular projects that do not need to be carried forward; core funding is largely in place. There are some efficiency measures as a result of strategic review that we feel we can accommodate without compromising, in any way, our functionality on emergency management.