Public Safety Committee on March 10th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We'll call the meeting to order.

We do have quorum, and I think it's a mixed meeting. Am I correct about that? There are people in the room this time.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Mark D'Amore]

Yes, that's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm not going to read all the rules.

This is the 19th meeting of the public safety committee of the House of Commons, pursuant to a motion adopted on March 1 and subsequently amended, on the safety and security of passengers required to stay in federally mandated quarantine facilities.

As I say, it's in a hybrid format.

I'm going to welcome the two ministers, Minister Hajdu and Minister Blair. They will introduce their staff as they see fit.

If I may invoke the mercy rule, please make the remarks five minutes or less. We are already an hour and a half behind where we should be, and this is a scheduled three-hour meeting.

With that, may I ask either Minister Blair or Minister Hajdu to proceed, in whatever order they choose?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Chair, the decision was made that I would begin, so I will.

Thank you, honourable committee members, for the kind invitation to join you here today. We appreciate your efforts to review the measures that have been put in place, particularly at our borders, to keep Canadians safe.

I would like to also begin, if I may, Mr. Chair, by expressing my deep concern about the very serious allegations of assault that took place at a quarantine hotel and during a quarantine compliance check. The events that are alleged are criminal in nature. They must be thoroughly investigated. Perpetrators must be held to account. I can assure this committee that I understand that these matters are being investigated by the police of jurisdiction and that our agencies, particularly the RCMP, will provide support in that ongoing investigation as required.

While I can't comment on specific elements of any operation, I am joined today by Commissioner Lucki and President Ossowski, as well as my deputy minister, Rob Stewart, to provide any additional insight members may require. However, if I may, let me briefly talk about some of the measures that we have put in place.

As you will recall, last March we introduced the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for the country, and recently we have implemented additional measures and testing requirements for travellers arriving in Canada both by land and by air. All of these measures have been implemented in order to slow down the spread of the virus, and we have put these restrictions in place to help prevent further importation of the virus and new variants.

I'll briefly speak about the role that the CBSA plays in these measures. I'm pleased to tell you that since we introduced the requirement for travellers to show proof of a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 test, there has been an overall 59% drop in international travel by air. Of those international travellers arriving by air, Mr. Chair, over 99% have been compliant with the mandatory pre-arrival testing requirement.

I think that bears repeating: 99% have been compliant. I've been involved in the law enforcement business for a long time, and it's a very rare thing to see that level of compliance. I think it's a testament to the commitment that Canadians have made—even those who are travelling for non-essential purposes—to keep themselves and their communities safe.

To be clear, throughout all of our actions, the health and safety and security of Canadians has been our utmost priority. Our temporary border measures have been essential to keeping Canadians safe, and we continue to strongly advise against travel outside of Canada.

CBSA officers in all of these measures have been at the very forefront of Canada's COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic. I believe that they have responded to the challenge, quickly adapted to new border and health measures, and have done, quite frankly, an extraordinary job in helping to keep Canadians safe. They apply over 90 acts and regulations, in addition to all of the provisions of the orders in council established by the government to respond to the pandemic. They share, clearly, our collective commitment to keeping Canadians safe.

They screen all travellers upon entry. They are vigilant, professional and responsive to the needs of Canadians. They collect contact information on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada. They confirm the suitability of quarantine plans for each traveller, and before any decision is made to allow a traveller to enter Canada, they review the traveller's unique circumstances, the purposes of the trip and the documents presented.

As designated screening officers, they have the authority to review, challenge and confirm travellers' statements, and when any questions arise regarding a traveller's quarantine plan, they are directed to the Public Health Agency of Canada, which makes the final determination. Once the traveller is then admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor and track the individual from a public health perspective falls within the mandate of the Public Health Agency, supported with information and data provided by the CBSA. This includes all decisions with respect to the pursuit of any enforcement action.

It is important to point out, Mr. Chair, that because quarantine remains one of our most effective measures, the enforcement measures are the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction. Health and enforcement officers are in regular contact with travellers to ensure that they are in compliance with the quarantine orders. We work very closely with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to enforce these measures. The enhanced presence of border services officers and public health officers is effective, and it's helping to ensure that travellers understand their quarantine requirements.

The RCMP work very closely, as well, with the Public Health Agency of Canada. They play a coordination role for all Canadian law enforcement, and they are ensuring that the appropriate police of jurisdiction are provided with the information required to conduct physical verification of compliance with quarantine orders.

Mr. Chair, we will continue to work very collaboratively in upholding these measures. Our quarantine measures, in my opinion, have been the most effective response to protect Canadians from the spread of COVID. We have rigorously enforced them, and they will continue to be in place as long as they are required.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Minister Blair. I appreciate your being right on five minutes.

With that, we'll move to Minister Hajdu.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have with me today Iain Stewart, who is the president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Associate Deputy Minister Harpreet Kochhar, who is the lead on this file.

From very early days, a very important part of Canada's COVID-19 containment strategy has been mandatory quarantine requirements. They're an essential part of our strategy.

Last month, the Government of Canada established additional border measures to quarantine international travellers arriving in Canada by land or air. As of February 22, travellers arriving by air are required to stay in government-authorized accommodation for up to three nights while they await the results of the COVID-19 molecular test they take on arrival.

These accommodations are different from the designated quarantine facilities, which are operated by the Public Health Agency of Canada and are generally used to accommodate symptomatic travellers or those without an appropriate location to quarantine themselves.

The requirement to stay in a government-authorized accommodation or at a designated quarantine facility is an important public health measure, and it is an important component of protecting Canadians from the importation of COVID-19 and the variants.

Our experts and scientists constantly and carefully monitor COVID-19 outbreaks across Canada and indeed the world. We understand the risks, and we're taking this situation seriously. Every public health measure that we have taken is an important approach to protect Canadians from the virus.

Protecting the health and safety of Canadians has been our top priority as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Government of Canada has established strict quarantine and travel measures to reduce the importation and spread of COVID-19, and recently the introduction of variants into our country.

We know the virus is changing and shifting. It's very important for our country to be able to monitor how that virus is changing and what additional threat it poses to Canadians. Canada's mandatory quarantine program is an essential part of our COVID-19 strategy.

Canadians have made important sacrifices to tackle COVID-19, including curtailing international travel. We are receiving more vaccines every day, and that is good news. We are at a critical inflection point in our fight against COVID-19, and we need to keep following public health measures and remain vigilant.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has federal employees on site and has increased the number of security personnel at designated quarantine facilities to help provide a safe and secure environment. We are in daily contact to support our partners in delivering the mandatory quarantine sites.

For that reason, Mr. Chair and honourable members, this is not the time to suspend federally mandated quarantine measures.

I want to thank Canadians for the incredible sacrifices they have been making to protect each other from COVID-19, including curtailing non-essential travel.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

Ms. Stubbs, you have six minutes, please.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

To the public safety minister, how is the misconduct of a designated screening officer handled? Is it up to their direct employer? What recourse options are there for Canadians in cases of misconduct or criminal behaviour?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I'm assuming you're referring to the private security member who was contracted to follow up on these matters, and where there's an allegation this has to be thoroughly investigated. The allegation is of a criminal nature, and the person, if the evidence warrants, would face criminal charges and be held accountable in a criminal court.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Are people complying with federal quarantine measures, given the list of their rights and responsibilities and the limitations of screening officers so Canadians can identify potentially unsafe situations and protect themselves?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

To be very clear, people who are placed in quarantine are not being placed in detention. They're not being arrested, and they're not in custody. They're ordered into isolation to quarantine under the Quarantine Act, and therefore this is not a designation where an individual is arrested. As you probably are aware, under the Constitution and under a significant amount of case law, there is a constitutional requirement to provide a person who is being arrested with information about their rights to retain counsel, etc., but these are not circumstances of custody and detention. Rather, it's quarantine under the Health Act.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Have you confirmed that, every time, Canadians know their rights when they're being directed to a quarantine facility?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

No, Mrs. Stubbs. Perhaps I wasn't clear. These people are not being arrested. They're not stepping into custody. They're not being detained. They're being placed in quarantine under the authority of the Quarantine Act.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

I'm simply asking if Canadians are told their rights when they're being told to go into quarantine facilities.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

No, ma'am. When they're directed into quarantine, they're referred to the Public Health Agency, which places them into quarantine.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Okay. I'll try to find out from someone who knows.

Does your government order risk assessments and ensure the safety and security standards for federally mandated quarantine facilities in order to protect occupants?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

That question is more appropriately directed to the head of the Public Health Agency of Canada who is responsible for those quarantine facilities.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Now that we are at least two weeks past reports of alleged sexual assaults within quarantine facilities and in the course of mandating federal quarantine compliance at home, I think that every Canadian would hope that you know those answers, Minister. That's indeed exactly why you're here.

I'm assuming, then, that you don't know whether or not risk assessments are done. You don't know about the safety and security standards in those facilities. You must not know, then, who signed off on them.

I hope you're getting a handle on the fact that operators have been telling single women not to tell people their location or to leave their doors unlocked, and that there are, in some cases, no locks on the doors within those quarantine facilities at all. It is a core responsibility of yours to provide safety and security for Canadians when they are simply attempting to follow your rules.

Are screening officers equipped with body cameras for accountability?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you very much.

I just have to go back on one of your points, because what you said is fundamentally incorrect. Subject to the chair, I don't want to take up the member's time unnecessarily, but what she has said is incorrect and I'd like an opportunity to correct her.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have that opportunity.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Just to be very clear, the operation of the designated quarantine facilities is entirely under the authority of the Public Health Agency of Canada. I actually have no jurisdiction over those matters. We do provide support and assistance through the RCMP to the Public Health Agency of Canada. In the questions that she asked, she incorrectly suggested that it is a responsibility of Public Safety Canada.

She's just simply misinformed. Her question is more appropriately directed to the Public Health Agency.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Thank you for the condescension.

I do expect, though, that almost every single Canadian would hope that the Minister of Public Safety of this country would avail himself to ensure that Canadians are safe and secure within facilities or at home when trying to comply with rules that the federal government has set.

I'll assume you don't know the answer about whether or not screening officers are equipped with body cameras either. Does your government require enhanced security and background checks of the officers, over and above employer screening?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Again, Mrs. Stubbs, I have to advise you that they are not hired by any agency of the Public Safety portfolio. Your question is more appropriately directed to the Public Health Agency of Canada, who contracts with—

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Here's one for border crossing. One of the alleged victims said she had her passport taken away before being sent to a mandated quarantine facility. Who would have taken her passport and under what authority?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Her first contact coming into the country would have been with CBSA. They would have made inquiries with respect to, first of all, her right of entry and the suitability of her quarantine plan. I don't know the precise circumstances, but I have the benefit of having the president of the CBSA here. If you require that information and if he's able to disclose it, he's available to answer your question.