Evidence of meeting #166 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 cbsa.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Perhaps I will have the opportunity to come back to some of the other things we're doing that are making a difference.
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
The talent for stretching seconds into minutes is quite extraordinary today.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister Blair, I want to talk about illegal border crossings.
The Auditor General submitted a damning report on refugee claims. You said that the system was very efficient. However, it was confirmed that the system was overloaded. The main agencies have difficulty working together, and it will take four to five years simply to return to normal.
Do you regret telling us in the committee that everything was fine and wonderful? Do you regret providing inaccurate information?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Of course, I'm telling you the truth, Mr. Paul-Hus.
I was acknowledging the exceptional work that's being done by CBSA and by the RCMP, the police, provincial and municipal, right across the country. Given the resources and support they have had available to them, I think they do an extraordinary job.
We recognize that more needs to be done. It's precisely why we're making significant new investments and increasing their capacity to conduct these very complex investigations. For example, we recognize the importance of all law enforcement and departments and agencies working more collaboratively together. It's one of the reasons we're establishing for the money-laundering thing an action, coordination and enforcement centre.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
At the time, you told us that everything was fine. However, the Auditor General told us that this wasn't true. Basically, you're confirming that you provided the wrong information at that time.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Could you be specific about which Auditor General's report you are referring to, sir?
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I'm talking about the parliamentary budget officer's report, which confirmed the issues associated with the $1.1 billion cost of handling asylum seekers. This report was published a few months ago. Do you know what I'm referring to?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I'm sorry, I was referring to guns and money laundering. If you're talking about asylum claimants, one of the things that was identified, I believe, in that report was the work that was being done in security screening by CBSA.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
My question, sir, is quite simple.
A few months ago when you came to committee, we asked a question about the issue, and you said everything was fine. But the Auditor General said that there are many issues with that. My question was just whether you are ready to apologize to the committee because you said something wrong at that time.
That was my question, but I've lost too much time for that, so I'll go to my next question, sir.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Do you want an answer to that?
Sir, I'm happy to try to answer your question.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I've lost enough time, sir. I will ask another question, okay?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
If there are any other questions you don't want answered, let me know.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
That's all right because you understand my question.
Your speaking notes refer to that. In the budget, you talk about an investment of $1.2 billion over five years, but is this the same money that the Auditor General mentioned, $1.1 billion in three years?
Is it the same money?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I believe the Auditor General concluded his report and his estimates on what was required last spring, in 2018, and since that time our government.... First of all, budget 2018 made significant new investments in the IRB and CBSA, and of course, in the budget we've just presented before you today, which is $1.18 billion....
Just as an example, we're increasing the capacity of IRB from where it was when the Auditor General conducted his report. They had the ability then to do about 26,000 hearings per year. Under these new investments, by the end of next year, they'll be at approximately 50,000, so it responds very directly to the deficiency that was identified as a result of understaffing and underfunding that had previously been experienced. We made those investments in budgets 2018 and 2019.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Okay, you make a lot of detours.
Your title is Minister of Organized Crime Reduction and Border Security.
On organized crime reduction, you're supposed to talk about the Mexican cartels, drug cartels, too, but why does Minister Goodale's office always answer questions from the media and not your office?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
But you're the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction. Is that true?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I've listened very carefully to Minister Goodale's response and even his response earlier today, and I have exactly the same information as he provided to this committee.
It is a direct result of information provided by our agencies. I believe he did confirm that CBSA has determined that the number of inadmissibility cases for the period was 238 and also mentioned that we have been unable to determine any evidence that suggests—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I don't want his, Minister, I want your—
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
—that on the number you've raised in the House, 400 foreign nationals in Canada, we haven't been able to find any evidence that supports the veracity of that statement.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I'll go to my next question.
Last week, U.S. Vice President Pence came to meet the Prime Minister. Do you think they raised the question of the safe third country agreement? Did they?