Public Safety Committee on May 19th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #26 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Subject Matter of Supplementary Estimates (C), 2021-22: Votes 1c and 5c under Canada Border Services Agency, Vote 1c under Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Votes 1c and 5c under Correctional Service of Canada, Votes 1c and 5c under Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Vote 1c under National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Secretariat, Vote 1c under Parole Board of Canada, Votes 1c, 5c and 10c under Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Main Estimates 2022-23: Votes 1 and 5 under Canada Border Services Agency, Vote 1 under Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Vote 1 under Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Votes 1 and 5 under Correctional Service of Canada, Votes 1 and 5 under Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Vote 1 under National Security and Intelligence Review Agency Secretariat, Vote 1 under Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada, Vote 1 unde

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Taleeb Noormohamed Vancouver Granville, Lib.

Rob Stewart Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Anne Kelly Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Wassim Bouanani

John Ossowski President, Canada Border Services Agency

Brian Brennan Deputy Commissioner, Contract and Indigenous Policing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Nadine Huggins Chief Human Resources Officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Michelle Tessier Deputy Director, Operations, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

1:45 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Rob Stewart

Absolutely.

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Okay. Thank you.

My next question is for the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service.

For the last couple of years, CSIS has repeatedly and publicly alluded to the need to update its statute, specifically the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, to ensure it has all the tools that are necessary. I know that the act dates back to 1984. Certainly, we have had some witnesses speak to the same issue.

Maybe I could have the representative from CSIS indicate to this committee what CSIS is alluding to, specifically, when it wants to have that act modernized. What are you looking for from Parliament specifically? I'd like to have that information, please.

1:50 p.m.

Michelle Tessier Deputy Director, Operations, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Certainly. Thank you for the question.

I'm Michelle Tessier, the deputy director of operations for CSIS.

Obviously, with a very complex threat environment, the requirements to look at the variety of data that's available and the changing technology, there are a variety of tools and authorities that we feel we would benefit from, while recognizing that any of the authorities we request need to be well balanced with the privacy rights of Canadians.

Really, it's looking at our ability to use increased data, our ability to move forward in a more streamlined fashion on a number of requirements that we have under the act and our ability, really, to recognize, given the fast pace of technology, the importance of being able to analyze data and the importance of being able to move forward on obtaining warrants from the Federal Court, where we do need a more modern act to combat the threat today.

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Thank you for that response.

My final question might be a toss-up between the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP. The CBSA is going to continue to equip officers with risk assessment, detection and enforcement tools in order to strengthen our capacity to intercept illegal substances at ports of entry.

Substances like fentanyl and carfentanil are causing havoc throughout many communities in Canada. What is the trend with respect to those two very toxic substances? Are we seeing a trend toward more importation, or is the RCMP noticing that homegrown labs are starting to take up the slack and are providing the domestic demand that exists?

1:50 p.m.

President, Canada Border Services Agency

John Ossowski

Mr. Chair, I could probably kick that off.

I can certainly tell the committee that, over the last couple of years, we've seen a dramatic reduction in fentanyl and its derivatives entering the country, but a dramatic increase in the precursors to make fentanyl in Canada. I was recently on a trip to our designated sampling laboratory, which is located in the Vancouver airport, and I'm very proud that it has intercepted precursor chemicals that could have led to the production of billions of doses of fentanyl.

I'm very proud of the work we're doing. We're also working with Health Canada to ensure that these precursor chemicals, which aren't listed, become listed, so that we can intercept them.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

Thank you very much.

Colleagues, that takes us to the end of the first round, and because of our discussion over the motion, that's all the time we have.

On your behalf, I want to thank the witnesses for their testimony and for appearing for this very important study. This concludes this portion of the meeting.

Do I have unanimous consent to call the votes as a group, and dispose of the votes in one motion?

1:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Jim Carr

Shall all the votes for the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, carry?

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$1,958,648,984

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$173,061,244

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$591,723,683