Evidence of meeting #126 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crime.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
—a lot of money, Minister.
My question, to be clear, is that my understanding now is that you do not have a mandate to stop people from illegally crossing the border from safe spaces like upstate New York and claiming asylum in Canada—that it's just spending the money.
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
No. I would disagree entirely with—
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
—that characterization, but my responsibility is to ensure that Canadian law is upheld—
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
—and Canadian humanitarian principles are adhered to—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
I would just say to both the minister and the member that it works a lot better when you don't talk over each other. If we could just let the question be the question and the answer be the answer...?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, just to be clear, I should just clarify the rules. This is my time.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I have been asking the minister a yes-or-no question, which he has not answered, so just to be clear, I'm managing my time, thank you.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
I would reiterate the point that for the purposes of clarification it works better when we don't talk over each other. Thank you.
3:50 p.m.
Brampton North, Lib.
My point of order is in response to Ms. Rempel. Asking a question is not badgering the witness and I think that's what's happening here.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Okay. Again, that's not so much a point of order as a point of interruption.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
All right. Thank you.
Minister, for clarification, you have not stated that your mandate is to reduce people, so I'll ask you a simple question. What is the tolerable limit, per your mandate, for people illegally crossing the border from upstate New York and claiming asylum in Canada and subsequently abusing our asylum system? What is the number that you're managing to in your mandate?
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
I would much prefer that people would present themselves at regular border points, and we're going to do everything possible to encourage that, including in discussions with the United States.