Public Safety Committee on March 24th, 2026

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I was talking about the RCMP, Minister.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

With respect to the RCMP, there is a plan in place, which is primarily for federal policing. The 1,000 new RCMP officers are for federal policing, not necessarily for border control. They will undertake a range of functions—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Excuse me for interrupting, but I just want to understand.

You publicly stated in response to the Auditor General's report that the 1,000 officers you asked the RCMP to recruit for border security could be assigned in the provinces to the provincial police and to indigenous jurisdictions. That's what you said, and we have proof of that.

Are you telling me today that the 1,000 officers will be used for border management?

I'm a member of Parliament in a riding at the border, and I can honestly tell you that there's a lack of resources for managing land, maritime and rail borders. As we speak, there's already a shortage of officers, and you're talking about taking your 1,000 officers and sending them to the provinces or indigenous jurisdictions in response to the Auditor General's report. Is that what you said?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I'm sorry. I believe there's some misunderstanding on this. I will be glad to clarify.

With respect to the 1,000 RCMP personnel—and I use the term “personnel” very deliberately—they are meant for federal policing. They're not for provincial or first nations policing. The recruitment mandate, the $1.7 billion we received through budget 2025, is for investment in what's called “federal policing”. This also includes border control. The range of work includes cybersecurity, transnational organized crime and anti-terrorism, as well as issues of national security.

The commissioner can talk to you about the recruitment plan—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Excuse me for interrupting again. Don't you find it strange that, on one hand, you're going to cut $130 million and 173 full-time positions at the RCMP and, on the other hand, the RCMP is still going to recruit 1,000 officers and assign them to the border? The RCMP is having a hard time recruiting. It's documented.

How can you assure us of this recruitment, Minister? I'm concerned; I'm an MP who's very active on border issues, and every day, I see the lack of equipment and personnel needed to ensure proper border security.

Is there anything you can say to reassure me? Right now, I'm still very concerned about the RCMP's ability to recruit, train and hire 1,000 new officers in three years and assign them to border management.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I have every confidence, Madame. If you would like for me to ask the commissioner to elaborate, I can, but let me just say that the 1,000 new RCMP personnel are strictly for the federal role of the RCMP, which will include border security as well.

As you're aware, the financial crimes agency of Canada will also be established this spring. About 150 individuals will be earmarked for that—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Excuse me, Minister.

You said “will include”. When you drew up your border security plan in response to the demands of the President of the United States, you stated that the 1,000 RCMP officers would be assigned solely to border security.

Today, you said “will include”. That's not quite the same thing. I ask you again: Will the 1,000 new officers be assigned to border management, to the security of land, rail and maritime borders, as announced in your border security plan?

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Unfortunately, although the question was excellent, time is up. The good news is that there will be an opportunity to come back to this question, and the minister will have already heard it, so he'll be even better prepared to answer it.

That brings us to Mr. Lloyd for five minutes.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister and witnesses, for being here.

Minister, the declaration period for firearms owners is scheduled to end next week. So far, only 2.5% of the estimated two million affected firearms have been declared, and 98% of firearms owners haven't made a declaration. If they're not declaring by next week, what's your plan, Minister?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

If you will recall, the number of prohibited firearms is far fewer than I think your number indicates. We have over 26,000 individuals representing, I believe, over 52,000 prohibited firearms that have been declared.

The plan we have is that as of March 31, the time to complete the enrolment will be done. The RCMP and other agencies will be available throughout the spring and summer to do the collection.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Minister, you're saying that RCMP members.... We just heard an Auditor General report say that we're short 3,400 members. We're dealing with a wave of violent crime across this country. Are you saying that your plan is, over the spring and summer, to deploy RCMP officers to go door to door to firearms owners and seize their firearms?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

This is a voluntary program, Mr. Lloyd, as you're aware. In terms of the RCMP resources and the resources we will use with law enforcement, it does not contemplate in any way using existing resources. These are additional resources—those who are off duty and those who may be retired. In Quebec, for example, SQ has their own mechanism.

Let me be very clear: In no way is this to take away from existing police resources. The resources we have available contemplate individuals who are off duty.

If you want the commissioner to comment, I can ask him to do that.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Minister, I just find it very concerning that we're going to be sending police officers door to door, because, frankly, many police forces across the country are refusing to participate in your program. I think they have very good reasons not to want to participate in this program.

Are you not concerned at all, Minister, about people who are no longer serving as RCMP officers going door to door?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I think you may not understand the full extent of the program, Mr. Lloyd. It's not a door-to-door program. It is a mobile collection that will occur. Individuals will be bringing forth prohibited firearms.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Are those the people who have declared, Minister?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

They are people who have declared.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

What about the people who haven't declared?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Well, the program we have in place is voluntary. It's strictly voluntary. They're not compelled to take part in the program.

Compliance with the law is not voluntary, and as you are aware, as of October 30 of this year, the amnesty that was extended expires.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

After that amnesty expires, what's your government's plan for firearms owners who might still be in possession of these firearms?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Every police of jurisdiction will, as you're aware, need to enforce the law. Canada is a rule of law country, one that requires adherence to the law.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

A few years ago, we had your predecessor Minister Mendicino here. I asked him if your government had conducted any studies to show that this firearm confiscation program would do anything to reduce crime in this country. At the time, they didn't have any studies. The government hadn't produced any papers or research to show that this would do anything to reduce crime. In fact, in a 2018 engagement paper, your own department stated that based on international experiences, there was no evidence that this would reduce crime.

Has your government produced any reports since then to show that this planned nearly $1-billion—possibly more—firearm confiscation will actually reduce crime?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

As you're aware, the Mass Casualty Commission report called upon governments to—

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

That's not the same as a report, Minister.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

If I may just finish, Mr. Lloyd, I'm getting to your answer.

The Mass Casualty Commission report—

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Is there anything other than the Mass Casualty Commission report?