Public Safety Committee on March 24th, 2026

[Erin O'Gorman]

I think it's building on what the minister said. We took that direction in the budget quite seriously and are working very closely with our partners. That reflected that it's not really a CBSA decision. We will go where the economy needs us to be, no question. We're in the ports now. As more ports come online, we will be there.

It's about the economics and the work that our colleagues in international trade and transport are doing. They're working with stakeholders and looking at the ground, rail and highway infrastructure.

Be assured that we are part of those discussions. We are on standby, and we will be part of the supply chain, as we are now.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I know who to advocate to. Who needs to convince you? You said “trade”. What are the pertinent ministries that we have to get on about this?

[Erin O'Gorman]

Just reflecting on what was in the budget, there's Transport Canada, in looking at the supply chain infrastructure and looking, as I said, at rail and road, in addition to marine. Then there are our colleagues at trade, as they look at free trade agreements for trade to flow into Canada and out of Canada. They have an important seat at the table as well.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Are you ready to go, or have you already started working towards having CBSA services in Hamilton?

[Erin O'Gorman]

The Hamilton decision was with regard to warehousing, and we have been working closely with the proponent there. A separate decision would be involved in the Hamilton port itself, but certainly that's part of the discussions.

CBSA can't be a barrier for the future of the Canadian economy. We are an enabler. We need to be at the ports that are functioning and getting containerized cargo.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

We've heard about the shortages of RCMP officers. A CBC report came out today stating that it looked like it was getting worse. I know we put money towards 1,000 new officers for federal policing.

In my riding and in northern Ontario between White River and the Manitoba border, they used to have, I think, 25 RCMP officers. It was down to two and a half. I understand that after about a year of trying, they've increased it by one.

What more can we do? What other money is available to address this backlog? You're welcome to ask your staff.

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

Thank you, Mr. Powlowski.

I'll pass it to the commissioner to respond to that.

[Commr Michael Duheme]

When you're looking at the additional funding, the RCMP's approach over the last, I'd say, five to six years when it comes to federal policing is that we looked at bringing in the resources to address the key priorities in the different provinces. We saw this in Quebec when I was there several years ago. We shut down several detachments to mobilize resources in the larger centres—i.e., Montreal, Quebec and along the border.

If the threat intelligence picture dictates that we need to increase our footprint, with the 750 who are coming, that's something we can assess and take into consideration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Thank you, Commissioner.

Let me now move to MP Caputo.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Thank you.

Minister, there is an offender with the surname Ray. I'm sure you're familiar with this person. He was released on UTAs. Do you know his incarceration security level?

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

Not off the top, Mr. Caputo.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

As minister, would you be okay with him being incarcerated in an environment without fences?

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

I beg your pardon. What was the question?

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

As minister, would you find it acceptable if you learned that he was incarcerated in an environment that contained no fences? Would that be acceptable in your eyes?

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

Mr. Caputo, we have independent bodies that make those decisions.

In terms of the classification of security levels, that is done through Correctional Service Canada. If it's an issue of parole, that is through the Parole Board of Canada.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

I understand that.

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

These are questions that are devoid of ministerial intervention, as you're aware. I cannot direct either agency to—

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

You can have a review. If it was the case that this person, this offender, Ray, was housed without fences, would you initiate a review after learning that?

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

Mr. Caputo, I am not going to speculate, and I'm not going to give you responses to scenarios.

If you have a particular concern, I will be more than willing to look at it. I look forward to that. Send me a letter or an email or even talk to me, and I will be more than willing to have that conversation with you.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'm going to continue from here. Thank you.

Minister, your 2026-27 departmental plan lists community safety as a core responsibility, one of your targets being 4% or greater of the percentage of Canadians who think that crime in their neighbourhood has decreased. It feels like that's an admission of failure of your government to address the community safety of Canadians. Perhaps it's a typo, but I'm going to dig deeper into this to find out.

It feels like you have low confidence that most Canadians will not think that crime in their neighbourhoods will decrease. Why have you set the benchmark at only 4%?

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

Look, I go across Canada. I've met so many police leaders and civic leaders. The top-line numbers on crime are actually trending down. For example, in the city of Toronto area I represent, homicides are down 50%, but the sense is that the feelings of Canadians, their sentiments, vis-à-vis crime and public safety remain high. The role of Public Safety is to ensure that there is greater confidence in our system overall.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Would you say you feel comfortable with only 4% of Canadians feeling that their neighbourhood crime has decreased? Are you comfortable with that target?

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

I would say every Canadian should feel and has a right to feel safe in their communities.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Is that a yes or a no?

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

My answer is that every Canadian has a right to feel safe and to be safe in their communities.