Evidence of meeting #99 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 rcmp.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Commissioner Daniel Dubeau  Acting Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
John Ossowski  President, Canada Border Services Agency
Malcolm Brown  Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Dennis Watters  Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Jacques Cloutier  Vice-President, Operations Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
Anne Kelly  Interim Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Charles Lowson  Assistant Director, Collection, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Again, the motion is in order. It's timely.

Mr. Spengemann.

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Chair, I move that the debate now be adjourned.

11:25 a.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I'd like a recorded vote, Mr. Chair.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 5; nays 4)

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

You have about two minutes left in your time.

11:25 a.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Didn't you stop the clock when I was reading out my motions?

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

No, I didn't. It's your time.

11:25 a.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

All right.

Minister, did CSIS see the guest list for the function organized by the High Commission of Canada on Thursday, February 22?

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Mr. Paul-Hus, I have no direct knowledge of that matter at the moment. I'll enquire and find out.

11:25 a.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Right.

Mr. Goodale, do these matters fall under your area of responsibility as Minister of Public Safety? Are you usually responsible for such matters?

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

The matters related to VIP security issues are under the purview and authority of the Privy Council Office. That is actually where the questions should be directed, Mr. Paul-Hus. I would, though, add a caveat. As you know from my answers on other issues on other occasions, I don't wade into operational discussions because that is not in the best interest of Canada. I also observe that there is a process by which members of Parliament can pursue these issues, but it's not appropriate in a standing committee.

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Thank you, Mr. Paul-Hus. Unfortunately your time has run out.

Mr. Dubé, you have seven minutes, please.

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Thank you, `Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you for being here. Although we often have our differences and some robust debate in this setting, I want to thank you for the money that will go towards the redress system after the advocacy of the no-fly list, because that's something very important. We will wait and see, because the devil is in the details, as they say, but at the same time I think we can agree on that. I will share my appreciation for that.

I have a few questions.

You mentioned the G7 Summit. I don't know if you received a letter from my colleague, Karine Trudel, who wrote you in order to find out what support would be given to municipalities in the Saguenay, given that heads of state, such as the American President and the German Chancellor, will be flying into Bagotville. In addition to this, many of the people attending the G7 Summit will have to stay in the Saguenay region during the conferences, given that space is limited in Charlevoix.

Could you explain to me what support municipalities will receive so that they don't find themselves saddled with a huge bill at the end of the summit?

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Mr. Dubé, thank you.

Thanks, first of all, for your comments about the passenger protect program and the changes we're making there.

With respect to Charlevoix, security, and the G7, as you will understand, this is a very complex and detailed operation. I mentioned in my remarks that Monsieur Paul-Hus had asked for a briefing with respect to all of the details, and certainly, that same briefing can be made available to you to ensure that you're properly informed about all of the arrangements that will be put in place.

These events are big, and they have disruptive impacts in the local communities in which they are held. We want to make sure that is properly addressed, and I will make every effort to respond in detail to the letter from Ms. Trudel. I haven't seen it personally yet, but I will be following up.

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Fair enough. Thank you.

I don't want to take away anything from the work that the interim commissioner, Mr. Dubeau, has done, but you will understand that people are wondering where the process is in finding the new permanent commissioner. It has been a fairly long period of time now, and there are a lot of issues on the table that need to be dealt with, in particular some labour issues and issues related to sexual harassment among other things where we're looking to see what kind of direction the new commissioner will put in place.

Is there anything you can tell this committee about where that process is currently?

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

It is very well advanced. The search process involved a professional, independent human resources search firm of very high calibre and then a selection, interview, and analysis process that was conducted over the last several months, led by former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna.

The members of his committee, I think, are known to members of this committee, but I would be happy to provide you with a full list of all of those.

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

If I may, is there any kind of timeline you can provide to the committee?

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Very shortly, Mr. Dubé. I think it could be measured in.... Well, very shortly.

11:30 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

We will look forward to that with great interest.

The other timeline I wanted to ask about—and I imagine I will get a similar diplomatic response—is the cybersecurity legislation that's mentioned in Tuesday's budget. What kind of timeline is being envisioned for that, because significant changes are being proposed?

As you know, the committee is currently dealing with a significant piece of legislation.

What kind of timeline is being looked at for the new changes?

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

I would very much like to have that legislation before Parliament this year. Given the parliamentary timetable this spring, I'm not sure we can get it there before the House rises in June, but I would definitely want to see the legislation before the House as quickly as possible.

Understand, there are a number of things that are feeding into this process of a national cybersecurity strategy. Bill C-59 is part of that, as you will have observed, Mr. Dubé. The national defence review has been part of that process. There is a significant contribution to be made by Shared Services Canada. You will note an item in the budget over and above the $507 million that relates to cyber and Shared Services Canada.

There is a contribution also to be made by ISED on the science and innovation side of it.

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

The budget talks about putting everyone under one roof.

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

Yes.

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

As part of the discussion around Bill C-59, we had the deputy chief of CSE talking about the sharing of capabilities with the military that's developing their own cyber capabilities and this whole debate around active cyber-operations.

What does it mean to have everyone under the same roof? Does that mean we could have CSE as a civilian organization doing work alongside the armed forces with their capabilities and the sharing that's going on currently? Would that be creating this legal framework where everyone's essentially operating under the same roof, or are you just going to tell me to wait for that legislation?

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Regina—Wascana, SK

We want to get the efficiencies and the synergies that come from all of the expertise being co-located in a way in which they can mutually reinforce each other. At the same time, we want to make sure that Canadians feel that this centre and the expertise within that centre is accessible to them, hospitable toward them, and of service to them. That is the balance we're trying to achieve, Mr. Dubé, to avoid having four or five different centres of expertise divided up across the government. We want to pull all of that together, and have it accessible to all Canadians, not just the military. That's the balance we want to achieve.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Thank you.