Public Safety Committee on Nov. 9th, 2017

[Peter Hill]

Thank you.

The agency, through supplementary estimates (B), is requesting $3 million to implement and administer the new federal framework to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis. The funding is going to several specific areas, including support to our port of entry and border service officers at the front line for their questioning and interdiction. There will be communications through social media and a digital approach to ensure that travellers are aware of the new legislation and the requirements. We're also providing some funding to our laboratory for it to conduct the analysis with respect to cannabis or cannabis-related products. We also have some funding to ensure that we can track and report our performance under this new framework.

I would add that in terms of communication, it will include signage at our major ports of entry. At the ports of entry we'll also be introducing a mandatory question with respect to the cannabis legislation.

Hopefully, that answers your question.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Yes, thank you.

I will now move to another topic; my comments are addressed to Mr. Michaud from the RCMP.

What is the exact purpose of the $60.1 million allocated to adjust remuneration?

[D/Commr Gilles Michaud]

It is to cover the back pay for a two-year period, for the salary increase given to the regular members of the RCMP. That is the exact amount.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Do you expect any other expenses following the outcome of ongoing discussions regarding the implementation of Bill C-7, and in light of what is going on currently, that is to say the fact that members wish to unionize?

[D/Commr Gilles Michaud]

That will have to be negotiated, I believe, between the government and the new association.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Thank you.

I would like to raise one last matter.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have a little more than two minutes.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

That is fine, thank you.

I'd like to discuss the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. The first part of the funds is being allocated through these votes, but what is the long-term plan to ensure that this committee will have the necessary resources? Will there be a needs assessment following their first experiences?

[Malcolm Brown]

To begin, I can say...

Where to begin? The short answer is, yes, a preliminary amount has been identified. It's really an issue for our colleagues at the Privy Council Office. They have the formal relationship with the new committee of parliamentarians. So I'm kind of mowing the Privy Council's front lawn here, but I'm doing so in an effort to be responsive.

Funds have been set aside. There is a sense that it is an appropriate level for the new task. I'm quite certain, between the chair and the members, that if the funding level isn't deemed to be sufficient, the government will hear loud and clear from the members. The minister has been very clear that the strength and influence of the committee is directly related to its credibility, so I'm confident that it will be—

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

The committee will be consulted on their budgetary needs as time goes on.

[Malcolm Brown]

They will, I'm sure, make their views known if they're feeling it's under-resourced. In some ways, frankly, the heavy resourcing will be the response of agencies like the ones here today, plus others, in responding to their requests.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you.

Ms. Damoff, you have seven minutes.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for being here for this hour with the committee. It's always very helpful.

In the supplementary estimates, there's some additional funding to improve mental health services for inmates and to support reintegration programs for indigenous offenders. I'm wondering if any of the money in that investment will be used for screening when the person first arrives at a facility and, subsequent to the screening, for directing them into specific mental health services to deal with whatever issue may be found. As we know, an extremely high percentage of offenders are arriving with pre-existing mental health conditions.

I guess, Ms. Kelly, this is probably directed at you. I wonder if you could share with us whether any of that money is being used for that.

[Anne Kelly]

In terms of the monies we'll receive, right now we have a mental health strategy that's along a continuum of care. Screening is done at intake when an offender arrives. We have primary health care, intermediate mental health care, and also psychiatric hospital care. In 2015 we had a gap in terms of the intermediate mental health care. Through a reallocation of resources, we were able to establish that in some of our institutions.

With the new funding, we'll be able to add this intermediate mental health care to more institutions and add intermediate mental health care to our maximum security prisons so that the services are better matched to the needs of the offenders.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

How much of that funding will be dealing with fetal alcohol syndrome? We know that is an issue for inmates when they're arriving at the facility. It makes it difficult for them and for staff. I'm just wondering how much focus is being put on that particular issue.

[Anne Kelly]

Oftentimes we see in offenders with challenging behaviours an underlying mental health need, such as FASD or a personality disorder. The funding that we'll receive will assist with those offenders.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you.

My next question has to do with the funding you're receiving for indigenous offenders and their release and reintegration into communities. We heard testimony at our last meeting from the Union of Solicitor General Employees, and in particular parole officers, who were talking about challenges with people upon release having ID. They need it in order to find employment, housing, and pretty much everything else when they're released. They don't have identification, including status cards in many situations.

I'm wondering if there's any ability, with the funding that you're receiving, to take a look at trying to integrate allowing these people to receive their identification prior to release, rather than relying on doing it ahead of time. I'm not talking about spending money to divert staff to take these people to a facility prior to their release.

I know that I can renew my driver's licence online. You know who the person is. They have a federal ID. You know exactly who they are. I'm wondering if maybe some of this funding can be used to try to fill that gap in terms of providing ID to these people upon release.

[Anne Kelly]

This is something we've been tackling for some time. I was a parole officer. The first thing you ask about, as soon as an offender arrives, is their ID and what's required. We actually help them. We provide them with the forms and help them complete them so that they have the proper ID upon release.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I appreciate that. There must be a bit of a disconnect in actual operations. I'll leave it with you, but our understanding was that while this may be done, offenders are not able to actually get it before release. Maybe you could look into it. I'll leave this one with you.

We talked a little about mental health, in particular about screening and FASD. Can you expand a bit more? You are receiving a significant increase in funding for mental health and some of the other programs you're able to deliver within Corrections in terms of mental health services.

[Anne Kelly]

The monies we're going to receive will be to expand our mental health supports to offenders. This is going to provide a better continuum of care.

For us, receiving funding means, for maximum-security offenders, that we can provide intermediate mental health care to both men and women where they are. Right now, for example, we have to transfer women to the regional psychiatric centre in Saskatoon.

With the funding, being able to actually treat women with mental illness at their facilities and having the staff to do so is going to lead to a reduction of inter-regional transfers. It means they are with the same case management team that they know, and also that they are close to their community and family supports.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Ms. Damoff.

Ms. Leitch, you may take five minutes.

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

My first question is for the newest member of the panel here, Mr. Vigneault.

We've had previous testimony at this committee with respect to the resources you would require to make sure that Canadians are safe. We recently had a professor from Wilfred Laurier University comment that the resources may be lacking for us and for you and your colleagues to do your jobs well.

Could you outline for me whether you have the human resources, the right talent, the right funding, the right material resources to do your jobs well and, if there is something lacking, what it is you need to do your job well to make sure that Canadians are safe?

[David Vigneault]

The balancing of the resources available is obviously a very important issue for any accounting officer of any department. In my case, when I arrived at CSIS, I had a chance to work with very experienced people who knew the business really well. I had had the opportunity to know the business myself from various vantage points, so I knew some of the challenges and was able to get much more detail after my arrival.

What I can tell you is that there are challenges, of course. The threat environment is complex, and it's evolving. We are constantly trying to find ways to assess the threat and put the resources in the right place. We do so on a constant basis.

One of the added challenges is with the way the technological environment is evolving and the pace at which it is evolving. We're trying to find the right balance between having new technology, recruiting the right people, and deploying the financial resources to operate. These are ongoing discussions within the organizations, and I share the results of those discussions with the minister.