Thank you, Chair.
We are supportive of these amendments. As my original motion and our motion, as well as Minister LeBlanc's public statements indicated, Canadians deserve answers. That includes a response in a letter to Mr. Caputo yesterday from the minister explaining that we are committed to providing this information. We welcome the opportunity to have these conversations.
I think it's important to note as well in these conversations that the commitment to our national security is paramount. In fact, I'm very pleased to see the Conservatives finally realize that their cuts have consequences. Previously, when the Harper government cut more than 1,000 CBSA employees, the president of the Customs and Immigration Union, Mr. Fortin, said:
There will be little, and in some cases potentially, no investigating or surveillance being done to keep these criminals out of the country and out of our communities.
Fortin also said:
If the government doesn't change the course and withdraw its plans to implement these cuts, the federal government will be putting the national security and public safety of our community at risk.
This is precisely why we have been making reinvestments in CBSA staff, to deal with the previous Conservative cuts. It's exactly why we continue to make investments through the budget and the fall economic statement, which the Conservatives voted against.
We look forward to having these meetings so Conservatives can truly appreciate that their cuts have consequences to our national security and the safety of our communities. We are very supportive of these amendments and of having that conversation.
Thanks, Mr. Chair.