Public Safety Committee on May 7th, 2015

[Commr Bob Paulson]

That's not true, Mr. Easter. Mr. Easter, that's not true, and I have to stop you there, because people couch these criticisms in the blanket of repercussions, and there are no repercussions. What we are building—what I've built and what I insist on having—is an organization where those conversations take place without repercussions.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

I think it's good that you make that point, and any other calls I get, I'll—

[Commr Bob Paulson]

Refer them to me.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

—make that point myself.

Another area related to the RCMP is that we're getting an awful lot of complaints on security checks for jobs from people who can't get the security checks and the criminal record checks, etc. through the RCMP fast enough. You have employers wanting the employee, and the potential employee is waiting for the record check. Where is that at the moment? Why aren't the technology and human resources in place to get this done fast?

[Commr Bob Paulson]

Thank you for that question.

The technology is, I'm happy to say, in place. What we need are the users in the field, all of the police forces and agencies that are not part of the RCMP, to subscribe to the idea that we're doing this real-time ID. This real-time ID system is an amazing piece of gear. It's working. It's working for those people who have the equipment. There is some upfront cost to getting that equipment, but when that equipment is purchased—and we're in the new age of digital communication—that is streamlining that process incredibly.

It's in place. Folks around the country need to subscribe to that and we need to make that a reality.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, Mr. Easter.

We will now go to Mr. Rousseau for a few minutes.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

National safety in my riding is a big, big issue. I have seven points of entry, Lake Memphremagog, militia training in the Appalaches, and two RCMP offices, so it's a very big thing. Because I don't have much time, I'll ask my question in French.

My question is for Mr. Portelance.

The budget indicates a decrease of $20 million resulting from the gradual elimination of funding for front-line operations. What impact will this decrease have on front-line operations? These small cuts here and there are really worrying RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency employees.

[Luc Portelance]

Thank you for that excellent question.

These funds will basically disappear. However, I am pleased to tell you that this $20 million is included in the 2015 budget. So there will be no changes in our front-line operations.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Has it been a while since you've been to the Beebe crossing in Stanstead? It's a little bit rustic and could really use some renovations.

[Luc Portelance]

The other good news is that the 2015 budget provides for major investments to that end. We are getting ready to renovate and refit over 70 border crossings. I believe the Beebe crossing is one of them, but don't quote me on that. We are going to renovate most of the small and medium border crossings over the next three years. We are well aware of the condition they're in. Unfortunately, I've never been to Beebe.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Beebe is where you're in the United States on one side of the street, and in Canada on the other. It's unique.

Mr. Paulson, my question is for you.

There are two RCMP offices in my riding, one in Stanstead, which has just been renovated, and another on Bourque Boulevard in Sherbrooke, very close to my constituency office.

There have been budget cuts since 2013-14. Will one of the offices be affected by cuts to staff or resources, particularly the one for Stanstead, which operates along the border?

[Commr Bob Paulson]

Thank you for the question.

I don't know. We are making changes in how we are managing federal resources in Canada. We don't intend to close any offices or detachments, but it's one option we're looking at. I can't give you an answer on this today.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

You should also go visit these offices, Mr. Paulson.

Mr. Coulombe, do you know that there are training operations for foreign militias and even Canadian militias in the forest along the border and on Mount Pinnacle, not far from the municipality of Coaticook? Is any monitoring going on and what's happening with these operations? People in the surrounding villages are aware of it and are talking to me about it. What is going on with these activities?

[Michel Coulombe]

Thank you for the question.

You will understand that I cannot comment on specific points concerning the operations. All I can say is that if there are any activities that represent a certain threat and that fall under the definition of a threat as set out in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, we are doing what we have to. I cannot answer more specifically on that matter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you, Mr. Rousseau.

Now we'll go to Ms. James briefly, for five minutes or less.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The bells are ringing, so....

My question will be directed to Mr. Coulombe—

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I thought our agreement was that when the bells started, we would go directly to committee business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

No, we agreed to go....

We were going to go 20 minutes, and we were going to go up to 10 minutes to finish off with the witnesses. We would then go to committee business for the last 10 minutes.

That was the chair's understanding. If the chair was wrong on that, I stand to be corrected. We thought we would just finish a round, and that way hopefully we'd get everybody in. But I will check that with the clerk.

I've just checked with the clerk, and the chair stands corrected. The chair was apparently under the wrong impression. We will now suspend.

Thank you to our witnesses for coming here today.

We will now go in camera to discuss committee business.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[Public proceedings resume]

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Colleagues, I'll bring this to your attention. I'll paraphrase very quickly. I can read the full explanation should it be necessary.

The basic tenet of my discussion is the fact the amount we will be voting on is in the initial, less, of course, the interim supply that went out on them, leaving us with the balance that we are voting on. Are we all comfortable with that or would you wish the chair to read out the process?

First of all, the chair would like some direction. Are we doing these one by one or can we do them in one motion? I would need unanimous consent to.... No unanimous consent? We will go one by one. Is that correct?

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

I can give you unanimous consent to do all but the last one.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

That's fine. If we're comfortable with doing everything but the last one, do we have unanimous consent to go that way?

We are going from vote 1 right straight through until vote 14. Okay? So vote 1 right straight through—

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

I'm sorry. We don't have a good list here to work with on the number of votes. The vote on SIRC is the one that I would like to treat separately.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Yes, that is the extra vote, Randall. SIRC is not included. It's all of the votes up to SIRC.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

The chair is not going to read out each one because they're all separate amounts. As long as we have an understanding that this does not include the vote on SIRC and that this does give you the amount less the interim that was put out there, we're voting on the balance forward now.

We'll vote now on numbers 1 to 14.

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$1,411,403,312

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$180,203,476

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$488,215,677

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CIVILIAN REVIEW AND COMPLAINTS COMMISSION FOR THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$9,032,529

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$1,928,746,713

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$176,944,519

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

OFFICE OF THE CORRECTIONAL INVESTIGATOR

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$4,106,381

(Vote 1 agreed to)

PAROLE BOARD OF CANADA

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$40,021,838

(Vote 1 agreed to)

PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$113,188,545

Vote 5—The grants listed in the estimates and contributions..........$1,022,476,287

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$1,726,192,674

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$261,996,018

Vote 10—The grants listed in the estimates and contributions..........$180,351,933

(Votes 1, 5, and 10 agreed to)

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$848,114

(Vote 1 agreed to)

We will now go to vote 15, which is vote 1 under the Security Intelligence Review Committee, less the amount of $619,830.25 granted in interim supply.

SECURITY INTELLIGENCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$2,479,321

(Vote 1 agreed to)

Shall the chair report the 2015-16 main estimates to the House?