Public Safety Committee on March 1st, 2018

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

Thank you for the question.

The training itself is really focused, based on our GBA+ analysis, on our ability to approach individuals from any community with the respect that they need. That's really been our focus. As you know, we have a bias-free policing policy on that, and we have tried to reinforce that throughout the organization to ensure that as our members deal with sexual assault or any other type of issue, they are approaching the members of our diverse communities with the respect that they need. Part of that is also ensuring that, as we recruit across the force, we're recruiting more and more diversity into our organization. We are hoping that at a certain point you get a tipping point and you become more diverse as you're more and more exposed to our different communities.

That is really our main focus. The training itself is really focused on our front-line police officers, so when they are approaching any type of situation, they're approaching it in a respectful manner.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Can you give us an idea of what that training looks like and how it's actually delivered?

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

I would have to actually get the details back to you. I'm not the expert in that. I can get the committee the details on the active training that we're developing.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Great. Thanks very much.

Mr. Chair, my next question is back to the no-fly list. As you heard earlier, there are a number of us who have had concerns about it and a number of us who are very grateful for the budgetary commitment. Can we ask for a bit more detail on what has to happen next? The minister mentioned regulations and he mentioned a computer system and, of course, of Bill C-59, which is in the pipeline.

What exactly would the regulations look at and what would be the key components of that computer system, including its intersection, presumably, with other databases? What are the concerns about privacy, and specifically concerns about protecting young Canadians who are, in large part, as we heard, from the testimony of the #NoFlyListKids advocacy group, caught by this system?

[John Ossowski, President, Canada Border Services Agency]

Thank you. Maybe I'll start off. As the minister mentioned, I am responsible for the IT infrastructure. I currently have what's called the interactive advance passenger information system that connects with airlines on the international travel side.

This is about expanding that pipeline, if you will, because now we're also going to be connecting with domestic air carriers.

We're the IT solution, and we'll be responsible for the conveyance of the information from the list back to airlines in terms of a board or no-board decision.

[Malcolm Brown, Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

In terms of the regulatory process, there's a standard....Legislation drafts the broad framework and then the regulatory components lay out the specific requirements, etc. They will be...in point of fact, work has already begun on those. We're not waiting for the legislative process to be completed, in part because this is a priority for the government. It will set out—but there will be a consultation process as there always is in the regulatory process— expectations in terms of the behaviour of airlines, the information and how we expect them to interact with CBSA and Transport Canada.

As I say, it'll be a transparent process. There will be consultations and an opportunity for the public and stakeholders, including airlines and others, to comment and respond.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

With respect to the software development, is there an existing system that's already within either government or the private sector that could be appropriated or remodelled for use as the passenger protection system, or is it something that has to be built from scratch, and if the latter, is it going to be open to the procurement process, or is that not yet determined?

[John Ossowski]

That has not yet been determined, although I would say that we do have this infrastructure already in place, so it's about fitting it into all the domestic carriers and, as well, the other side of it in terms of the SATA list, the secure air travel list, and making sure the connectivity is there with everybody.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Thanks very much for that.

There is a budgetary appropriation in the estimates for $1.7 million and change for first nations community policing services. I'm wondering if you could let the committee know what those funds will be used for.

[Malcolm Brown]

In general, this is a transfer to the RCMP, so I can let Dan get into the specifics, but you'll be aware that there was a significant investment by the government in terms of funding for the first nations policing program, and we'll be spending and working now in terms of renegotiating agreements with agreement holders, provinces, and first nations communities. We're well on the way to implementing the relevant agreements, so that the additional funding for the significant reinvestment will get to communities as quickly as possible and we'll see better-paid and more officers on the ground.

Dan, do you want to speak about the $1.7 million?

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

The $1.7 million really is to pay for the cost of policing in the communities, whether it be a tripartite agreement or not. It's actually for front-line members on the road who were delivering that service. That funding was not there in the past. It is to pay for that. In some areas where it's grown, to pay for the extra officers who are on the ground, so it's actually the front-line service delivery piece who were performing that.

If you want real specifics, I'd have to look to my colleague, Dennis Watters, who's joined us, who is our financial officer, to break down specifics.

[Dennis Watters, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

Thank you.

Really, of the $1.8 million, there's about half a million dollars, $500,000, which is relating to the market adjustment for the pay for the members, and there's another about $800,000 that's for the economic increase for pay to the members, so about 75% of that relates to the pay increases. Those pay increases and economic increases drove up the cost of policing, so about 75% is for that.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I've got very limited time, and it's not a fair question given the time constraint, but can you give us a very quick appreciation how much of an issue substance abuse and addiction are in the context of first nations policing programs?

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

No—you're right—that's a broader discussion, and we are more than open to coming back to the committee with some experts on that and have a discussion about that.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

It's definitely a factor.

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

It's a factor, I think, throughout all of society. It's not just in first nations communities. It's a factor for all society that we should be concerned about.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Thanks very much.

I think that's my time, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Spengemann.

Go ahead, Mr. Paul-Hus.

You have seven minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a question for the RCMP and CSIS representatives.

On page 240 of the English version, $17 million has been earmarked for major international event security costs. Is vetting the guest lists for international events part of your mandate?

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

The RCMP is responsible for recruitment. I am sorry, I will answer in English.

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

Go ahead.

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

Really, our role is the security of the protectees or the Prime Minister. That is our role and part of that role is that we have a process in place. I can't talk about events specifically and how we do it, but we do have a full process in place to look at where the individual is going, to understand what's happening overseas in that area, and to understand what our posture would look like, including when inappropriate—When lists are shared with us, we would do a vetting of lists and advise accordingly on the issues there, so that we could change our security posture to ensure that our protectees are protected.

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

It's perfectly logical to do so. But once you have finished your inquiries and you've handed over the information to the Privy Council Office, the ball is then in the office's court, is it not?

[D/Commr Daniel Dubeau]

It always depends on the event and our inquiries, but yes, we inform those who need to know, if necessary.

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

Fine.

I now have a question for the witness from CBSA.

In the budget that's just been tabled, RCMP funding for migrant and illegal immigration control at the border has been increased considerably. What is happening in this area? What is your vision for the next 12 months as to border control? Will this money be used to build infrastructure or to pay salaries?