Public Safety Committee on Nov. 9th, 2017

[Malcolm Brown]

I think it's important to be careful not to uniformly conflate mental health issues with the broader question of radicalization to violence. There are demonstrated cases that clearly have a link to underlying mental health issues, and there are other times when that's not the case. That's a premise. I think it's important not to conflate the two questions. I don't think you did, but that's just for purposes of clarity.

The second point I'll make is that there is no question that the role of the centre is in part to facilitate local community groups. Montreal's centre is well known, and there are centres all across the country. There is an ongoing conversation and dialogue about mental health defined broadly. You can have young people who are disaffected who may be showing early signs of disassociation and that kind of thing. I think it is intermingled and it is a very complex issue. I think law enforcement around the world is trying to sort their way through that, as are all the organizations that are interested in the whole question of what the early signals are. Sometimes it's mental health, and sometimes it's just associations, whether online or in person, and that may not be a mental health issue.

A full-spectrum analysis needs to be done by these local groups to empower families to understand signs and to create safe spaces for families to go. Is it a mental health issue? Is it a question of illegality? Even so, are there safe places where diversion can take place? We do it in other parts of the criminal justice system, so that's part of the conversation that I think has to take place.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Spengemann.

That brings to an end our questioning of the witnesses.

In order to minimize disruption, I'm going to just continue with the meeting. The witnesses may stay or not, as the case may be.

Colleagues, we have 11 votes. I would entertain a motion to consolidate them into one vote.

That appears to be moved by Madam Damoff.

You've heard the motion. I'm assuming there's no objection to it. I'm assuming as well that it's on division.

Those in favour of the motion?

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

On division.

(Motion agreed to on division)

CANADIAN BORDER SERVICES AGENCY Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$11,051,631 Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$70,000

(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to)

CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$7,814,966

(Vote 1b agreed to)

CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$12,037,835

(Vote 1b agreed to)

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$4,969,798 Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$56,299,614

(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to)

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$96,531,066 Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$10,018,474 Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........$5,000,000

(Votes 1b, 5b, and 10b agreed to)

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$835,946

(Vote 1b agreed to)

SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS Vote 3b—Program expenditures..........$2,187,779

(Vote 3b agreed to)

The meeting is adjourned.