Evidence of meeting #150 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 safe.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Gilles Michaud  Deputy Commissioner, Federal Policing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Ruby Sahota  Brampton North, Lib.
Malcolm Brown  Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Jim Eglinski  Yellowhead, CPC
David Vigneault  Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Jennifer Oades  Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada
Bill Blair  Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
Tina Namiesniowski  Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency

4:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

And it was a very good one.

February 25th, 2019 / 4:20 p.m.

David Vigneault Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

If I remember correctly, I've said that terrorism is and will remain the most significant threat to public safety. However, the point of my speech was to bring attention to the significant long-term impact of espionage and foreign interference in our prosperity, democracy and sovereignty in the years to come. It was to bring a little diversity and more specific points from a professional point of view to the public debate on national security.

I do believe that these issues of terrorism, espionage and foreign interference are and will remain the most significant issues we're dealing with.

4:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

How much time do I have left?

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

You have two minutes.

4:20 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

Last week, Stewart Bell at Global News broke the news that an individual who had pleaded guilty to fighting with al Qaeda less than two years ago is already on parole and walking our streets. The same guy, Mr. Mohamed, has made public statements encouraging like-minded individuals to go out and do acts of terrorism in Canada. The Parole Board said this guy isn't going to change.

Yesterday on TV, there was a program from the United States dealing with a very similar individual who fought for al Qaeda and who is in custody in the United States. He's been in custody for eight years. The FBI and the superior court judge came forward and said that over the last eight years, that guy helped in their fight against al Qaeda, yet when a superior court judge looked at sentencing that gentleman, he gave him eight years. He said that was enough.

Our closest partner south of us says that a person who has proven to have been converted and has helped government authorities fight the people he had joined should serve eight years, yet here in Canada, just north of the border, we have a person who spends less than two years and is walking the streets. Do you think this is safe for Canadians?

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Mr. Eglinski, the police, security, correctional and parole authorities in Canada have one overriding priority, which is keeping Canadians safe. They make the appropriate decisions to do that. They work very closely together. The particular individual you refer to is the subject of a recent decision by the Parole Board.

The chair of the board, Jennifer Oades, is here. She can comment on that, to the extent that she can with respect to a specific case. I think she can give you a sense of the factors the Parole Board takes into account to ensure that its decisions are contributing to—not detracting from—national security and public safety.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Answer very briefly, please.

4:25 p.m.

Jennifer Oades Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada

Yes, thank you.

We don't usually talk about individual cases, but this particular case is relatively easy for the board because in fact we didn't make a decision on this case. This was not a case of parole. This was a statutory release case. As you may know, after serving two-thirds of a sentence, offenders are statutorily released and come under the supervision of the Correctional Service of Canada—of parole officers in the community—for that last one third of their sentence.

In those statutory release cases, the board is not deciding whether they're getting out or not. We know they're getting out. We work with all of our partners in terms of putting conditions on that release.

I hope that helps.

4:25 p.m.

Yellowhead, CPC

Jim Eglinski

Were there further conditions put on that release?

4:25 p.m.

Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada

Jennifer Oades

Yes, there were conditions.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Thank you, Mr. Eglinski.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

I would note that the law that was applied in this case is the same law that existed through the entire term of the previous government.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Thank you.

Ms. Dabrusin, you have the final five minutes, please.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

Thank you.

Thank you, Minister, for being with us today.

As I was listening to you talk about funding for support for RCMP officers, one of the things that came to mind.... I've talked with first responders in my community about their reactions when they have come to some very difficult situations. They are the paramedics and cops first on the scene. I was wondering if perhaps you could give us a bit of an update on how we're doing with our progress on PTSD supports for our first responders.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

It's a hugely important question, Ms. Dabrusin. Thank you for raising it. I know that members around this table, on all sides, have taken a great interest in PTSD or PTSI.

We are committed to the production, later on this spring, of a comprehensive strategy with respect to PTSI. That will be forthcoming in the months immediately ahead. There are various elements of that already in place. In the last budget, for example, there was significant funding set aside for an organization called the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment. It's a network of universities and academic organizations across the country working with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research on the research that is necessary specifically with respect to PTSI among first responders. They have full access to all the work that is done with respect to military personnel and veterans, as well. This is new research that is being undertaken, specifically focused on the issues relevant to first responders.

The RCMP has just upgraded its mental health services. I believe about $10 million, or perhaps $20 million, was set aside for the RCMP in the latest budget. The last couple of budgets have invested significant new dollars in both treatment and research, but we need to pull this all together in a coordinated way with the provinces—because many of these people are operating under either provincial or municipal jurisdiction—with the academic institutions, and with the unions that represent firefighters and police officers and paramedics, as well as the chiefs and the management in each one of those areas. That's what the comprehensive approach is intended to do.

The Prime Minister was asked that question a month or so ago in the House, and he indicated that we are on track to deliver later this spring a comprehensive policy where we pull all of these threads together. Part of it is the private member's legislation.... Was it Bill C-211?

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

Yes, it's MP Doherty's bill.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Mr. Doherty's bill—I believe it's Bill C-211—was passed by the House about a year ago. In putting together our national strategy, we will be very much honouring what Parliament adopted in that legislation.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

Minister, I can never miss an opportunity, when I have you with me, to raise CBSA oversight.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

I knew that was coming.

4:30 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

I was just wondering if you could give me an update on where we're at on setting up independent CBSA oversight.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

The legislation is in the process of being drafted, and we intend to present it at the earliest opportunity. The functions of the CBSA that touch on national security are covered by Bill C-59, just as any other department or agency of the Government of Canada that deals with security or intelligence issues is covered by C-59.

However, where you're dealing with individual officer complaints or concerns about specific functions or situations, you will need a separate instrument. That's what we're drafting now, and we will present it as rapidly as we can. It's very much in progress.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

I'm looking forward to it.

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Once again, Minister, I see that the enthusiasm for your appearance far exceeds the enthusiasm for estimates.