Public Safety Committee on March 24th, 2021

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Absolutely, we're going to fix it.

You'll see in these estimates that we are bringing forward additional resources to make sure we can fully implement Bill C-83 and the SIUs right across this country.

Jack, I'm not making any excuses. I accept the findings of Dr. Doob's report. I've met a number of times with Dr. Doob. I've known him for almost 40 years. I have great respect for him. I also have great respect for the external review investigators who have also been looking at these issues.

There are issues of implementation that have been challenging, particularly during COVID, because the requirements for isolation related to the illness have impacted these measures. We remain committed to fully implementing Bill C-83 and ensuring that the SIUs are effective right across the country.

That's why the resources are being made available to Correctional Service Canada in these budgets I bring before you today.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I have a related question regarding the correctional investigator, who makes report after report. He told our committee that he keeps making reports, and he expressed great frustration that the reports and recommendations that are made by him and others are being neglected and ignored by CSC, and through that by the ministry.

When are you going to start listening to what these reports have to say and implementing the recommendations? There is a great frustration. You give him a budget, but then you don't listen to him.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

With great respect, Jack, you're mis-characterizing that.

I meet with Dr. Zinger quite frequently. I have a great deal of respect...and I listen very carefully to him. His recommendations have directly impacted on the work of my department and my work, and I very much value his advice.

I understand that he brings forward some very challenging issues. I think he performs an absolutely essential role in advocacy and as the investigator for corrections. Mr. Sapers before him was also someone whose work I very much valued.

I do listen to him very clearly and, frankly, your characterization of his frustration as being directed at me is a bit of a stretch.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Not to you. He didn't say it was to you. He said that the Correctional Service Canada is not doing—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I think both of you are going to have to carry this off-line.

With that, we're going to go to Mr. Kurek, for five minutes, please.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you very much, Chair.

Minister, regarding the first vote on the estimates and the question that was asked earlier about whether or not your chief of staff will be able to testify before committee, I want to give you the opportunity to answer a simple yes or no on whether you will bring that forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Again, we kind of went to that....

Just so that no one will get upset, I've stopped the clock.

I ruled that as being of marginal relevance to estimates. Could you move on to another question, please?

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

With respect, Chair, I would simply say that the first vote we have is with regard to departmental finances. The office of the minister is one of those line items.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes, and I suppose we could go into each and every one of his employees as well.

With that, can you move on to a question of some relevance, please?

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Okay.

I think it speaks volumes, Mr. Minister, that there's no answer on that.

Minister, the Prime Minister promised in December that a first nations policing act was coming soon. Can you tell the committee today what “soon” means?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Yes. Thanks very much. That's a very important question. One of the most important responsibilities that the Prime Minister has tasked me with is the co-development—

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Just a date will be fine.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I thought you wanted an answer to the question.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Yes. I'm asking when.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Could you clarify it?

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

When is the first nations policing act coming?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

It will be when the process of co-development with the first nations across this country is complete. That process is already under way. We're meeting. That work is taking place. We will complete that work when the work is completed, obviously.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

I heard some concerns from frontline personnel specifically at CBSA that they lacked PPE at the beginning of the pandemic. Personnel at CBSA had some real frustrations in the response to COVID.

Most recently, I have heard from a number of folks at CBSA a level of frustration that frontline workers have been given no priority in terms of being given access to a vaccination. Is there a timeline to ensure that frontline workers at CBSA are able to get a vaccine?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I'd invite you to direct that question to the provincial authorities. We're delivering vaccines at an accelerated pace to provincial health authorities right across the country. They have that responsibility.

I will also tell you that I think you mis-characterize it. I meet fairly frequently with CBSA officers in many parts of Canada. I hold fairly regular discussions with them. We work very carefully and closely with them to make sure they have the personal protection equipment and all the support they need.

I agree with you. I think they've done an extraordinary job and continue to do an extraordinary job—

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

With respect, Minister—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Can we shrink the answers a little here? The members are getting a little frustrated.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

With respect, Minister, I think there have been a number of departments and areas of federal responsibility that have ensured that frontline workers.... I would think that, as the front line of our country, it would be a priority to ensure that the staff who are under your supervision would be protected.

Minister, you announced last October that there would be public health screening officers in place at all ports of entry, and I believe you said 190 of them by December of 2020. Yes or no, did that happen?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

There are two parts to your question. The first part is that the recommendation from the national advisory committee on immunization has identified frontline workers, including border service officers, as a priority in the second phase.

I'm led to believe by the provinces that the second phase should begin very shortly. It's just a matter of—

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

With respect, Minister, you said there would be 190 screening officers by December of 2020. Were those 190 officers put in place, yes or no?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Again, I'm not 100% sure what you're referring to there. I can tell you that there are 117 land border entries and four international airports that are—