Public Safety Committee on March 24th, 2021

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

The answer is yes. The reason, if I may sum it up in one word, is trust. Without the public's trust, without the consent of the people who are policed, who are subject to the actions of our border officers or who are in corrections, we can't serve appropriately.

All of the agencies, the RCMP, CBSA, CSIS and Corrections Canada, understand the importance of maintaining public trust. That's why independent, civilian oversight is such an important component of that. When I say “independent”, people don't have an expectation, for example, that police will investigate themselves. That is why I think independent oversight of complaint resolution is the best way to make it effective.

We have begun, with the introduction of—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Unfortunately, we're going to have to leave it there.

Ms. Michaud, you may go ahead. You have six minutes.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon. Thank you for being here today.

In recent weeks, we have seen a rise in violence against women. In Quebec alone, seven femicides were committed.

Minister, on March 19, you said you wanted to combat domestic violence and violence against women. One way you're planning to do that is covered in Bill C-21, which you introduced on February 16. The idea is to combat firearms smuggling and trafficking by creating “red flag” and “yellow flag” laws. You also talked about initiatives to tackle gun and gang violence to the tune of $46 million.

Have you already undertaken that spending? Is it covered in the bill? If so, that means nothing will be done until the bill is passed.

Do the existing estimates contain funding to combat violence against women?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Let me assure you that there has been significant spending against violence. I agree with you that violence against any vulnerable population is unacceptable, but violence against women is deeply concerning and what we have seen during the pandemic is an unacceptable increase in gender-based violence, violence directed at women in domestic situations and in society generally.

That's why we have introduced the first-ever federal strategy to address gender-based violence in 2017 and why I am working with the minister for a national action plan to end gender-based violence. We've made a number of very significant investments over the past year. For example, over 1,500 frontline organizations to deliver essential services to survivors of gender-based violence have received significant benefits, with over six million people benefiting each year from the important work of these organizations.

We are also making other significant investments. When the cases of GBV were increasing at the onset of the pandemic, we took some swift action. We provided over $100 million in emergency COVID funding to more than 1,000 organizations providing services directly to the victims of gender-based violence. There are investments in policing, in security.

We are bringing forward other legislation relevant to this, but we recognize in these circumstances that organizations that do the work in communities on the ground need our support and we've been working very hard to make sure that they receive that support, which is reflected in the budgets that I bring before you today.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

The number of violent offences involving firearms has gone up by 21% in recent years, going from 2,861 to 3,503 offences, an increase of 642.

Bill C-21 aims to enhance the capacity of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP, and the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, to combat the illegal importation of firearms. That's great, but according to CBSA's departmental plan for 2021-22, spending is supposed to decrease every year until 2023-24.

How do you explain that? How do you expect the agency to do more with less?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Yes, I understand. Just to be clear, there is a reduction in their expenditures. It's because they have concluded an infrastructure program that was funded over a number of years. That infrastructure program has now been concluded, so we no longer need to continue to fund the implementation of that. That accounts for the reduction.

We have made other significant investments in CBSA. They have had to do extraordinary things during the pandemic, because in addition to their responsibilities for border security and border integrity to determine the eligibility of people to enter, for example, or to detect and stop contraband material, they've had to continue with all of their responsibilities. They enforce over 90 laws. Just last week the RCMP and CBSA were involved in the seizure of 249 handguns, for example, that were being smuggled into Canada from New York state into the province of Quebec.

That was excellent work done by our officials. I offer that example just to provide you with assurance that our agencies remain very much focused on preventing contraband material, particularly in their responsibility to interdict the supply of guns.

I also want to take the opportunity to advise you of my conversations with the United States. I've reached out to the new Secretary of Homeland Security. We are establishing a new bilateral cross-border task force to deal with gun smuggling on both sides of the border. We know that the United States is the source of many of our guns and close collaboration between Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the United States and our officials in the sharing of information is going to be key to our success in keeping those guns out of Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have a minute left, Ms. Michaud.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My next question is precisely about the Canada-U.S. border. The government opted to appeal the ruling on the safe third country agreement, which was overturned by the courts. The government has already said that Roxham Road would again become an irregular border crossing once the temporary agreement with the U.S. to curb the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

Minister, has any money been set aside to deal with the flow of asylum seekers and individuals into Canada that will resume once the pandemic is behind us and Roxham Road is open again?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

This is an important issue.

I will tell you that the conditions do not yet exist for a lifting of the restrictions between Canada and the United States at the border. We did implement very effective measures to restrict the movement of irregular migrants at Roxham Road.

At the same time, we're working with the United States. We are in discussions with respect to the future of the safe third country agreement, and as you know, that matter is also before the courts.

We'll proceed with all of those important activities in order to ensure that we maintain the integrity of our borders, and at the same time, remain a welcoming country to those who are seeking asylum and refuge in Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Harris, go ahead, for six minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister, for joining us today.

We received this week the report from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP on the Colten Boushie matter, with a number of recommendations.

First of all, how do you, not Commissioner Lucki, plan to ensure that the recommendations are actually implemented? We know there's no real mechanism to report back to the CRCC on the recommendations. How do you plan, as the only real oversight, to ensure that that takes place?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

That's an important question.

Let me first acknowledge the importance of the report from the CRCC. The commissioner and the RCMP have acknowledged and committed to responding positively to all of the recommendations that have been made.

I don't disagree. It is my responsibility to oversee the implementation of those recommendations and on behalf of Canadians and Parliament ensure that the response is appropriate.

In addition to those very important recommendations arising from that event, let me first acknowledge that the way in which Colten Boushie's family, and Ms. Baptiste, in particular, were treated was unacceptable. We deeply regret that.

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

It's been condemned by Parliament today. There was a unanimous consent motion condemning and denouncing the racism disclosed in the report. It also acknowledged that the report revealed the RCMP destroyed records of police communications the night that Colten Boushie was killed and condemned the cover-up. We know that. That's a terrible thing, and the House has recognized that.

How are you going to ensure the recommendations are followed? That's the key point there. I don't have much time, as you know, so please don't gobble up the time with other comments.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I thought I was responding to your question, so I'll endeavour to try.

I meet on a regular basis with the commissioner of the RCMP. I have a responsibility, and I get regular updates from the commissioner on the activities of the RCMP. We are also very much engaged. I'll refer you back, and I know you don't want to go back to the Speech from the Throne, but we—

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

No, I don't want to go back to the Speech from the Throne. I'm asking you, how do you follow it?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

We made very significant commitments of reform and improvements in oversight, and we are working forward on those.

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

We see, though, that the principal oversight body at the moment, the CRCC, has a reduction in this budget. The commissioner has complained that she has inadequate funds to do both the complaints that are being brought to her, plus the systemic complaints for which the commission was given the power to undertake in 2014. The Colten Boushie case alone cost $1.2 million going back to last December, but we're seeing a decrease in her budget year over year.

Why are we not providing the kind of money...? She says she needs about a 50% increase in her budget to do a proper job, but even 30%, which would be $3 million or $4 million, would make a big difference. However, we see a decrease, not an increase. Why is that?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

In fact, you're not correct. The funding for CRCC is actually up over these two.... It's not a great deal, but more funding will be brought forward with the legislation. The reintroduction of our bill for civilian oversight of CBSA will also include significant new enhancements with respect to oversight, timelines and accountability for the RCMP.

All of that work is coming. We've introduced that legislation twice. I'm looking forward to bringing it forward again, and your support as we do so.

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

Speaking of the CBSA, Minister, you mentioned a couple of times the increased interest in border smuggling and enforcement against it, yet the CBSA budget for border enforcement has actually gone down by about $20 million from two years ago. What we're seeing as well is that, while we know over a thousand CBSA officers were removed from the CBSA by the previous Conservative government, you've replaced maybe 160 or 180 of them.

Where is the increased availability to carry out this anti-smuggling enforcement, which we think is very important, particularly with respect to guns? Where's the money for it?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I think it's very important too, and I'm going to invite the president of the CBSA to talk about his staffing and his budget.

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

We can do that in the second half of the meeting, sir. I'd like to know what you can tell us about it.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I thought you might want the answer now, and he'd be able to provide you with the particulars of that, Jack.

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

You don't have an answer yourself, then, as to where the money is coming from.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I can tell you that the CBSA asked for and is getting, in these estimates, $30.8 million this year alone for smuggling, in answer to the establishment of the U.S. task force. That's the data I have in front of me.

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

Is that an increase of $30 million, or is it the total budget for dealing with smuggling?