Thank you, Chair.
I move that Bill C-12 be amended by adding after line 23 on page 18 the following new clause:
39.1 Section 81 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Ministers' warrant
81 The Minister and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration must issue a warrant for the arrest and detention of a person who is named in a certificate if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person is a danger to national security or to the safety of any person or is unlikely to appear at a proceeding or for removal.
Colleagues, the ministers of immigration and public safety have the powers to issue these warrants. In line with other amendments that we have discussed today, we are looking to change the language from “may” issue a warrant to “must” issue a warrant. If the conditions under our laws are met for a detention, these ministers have the responsibility to issue detention orders. Canada's safety should not be optional or discretionary. If someone named in a certificate, such as a security certificate, is deemed to be a danger to the public or a flight risk, why should ministers have the option to not detain them?
Seriously, that is actually crazy. Canadians expect our laws to be followed. Our amendment ensures that those who should be detained are actually detained.
Thank you.