Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Let me begin by welcoming some of the new members to the committee, including our newest member of Parliament, Doly Begum. It's really good to have everyone here.
I want to thank the committee for this opportunity to join you today.
I'd like to acknowledge that we're gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Protecting Canadians and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system are priorities for our government.
Central to this is ensuring that our borders remain secure and that immigration and border policies are applied fairly, transparently and in compliance with Canadian laws and international legal obligations. Our government is committed to ensuring that people who no longer meet the requirements to remain here, including those posing threats to public safety or national security, are removed in accordance with the law and supporting processes.
I'd like to take a moment to discuss the role of the Minister of Public Safety on this matter. The minister is responsible for the administration of immigration enforcement provisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. These provisions include the power to examine individuals entering Canada, as well as the power to investigate, arrest, detain and remove inadmissible foreign nationals and permanent residents from the country. Finally, the minister also has the responsibility to shape national security, transborder criminality and organized criminality policies and provisions, and the non-delegable power to grant relief from their effect.
The CBSA prioritizes the removal of individuals who pose a risk to public safety. In 2025, the agency achieved a significant milestone, removing over 22,500 inadmissible persons, a record for a single year. Nearly 1,200 of these removals were due to serious concerns related to criminality, national security, human rights abuses and organized crime.
Over the past five years, removals on serious grounds have nearly doubled, reflecting the CBSA's commitment to and work in mitigating public safety threats. The agency is actively combatting criminal activities, such as extortion, by collaborating with law enforcement to remove individuals who are involved in these activities and are terrorizing our communities. These efforts have had an impact in areas such as British Columbia's Lower Mainland, Edmonton, Winnipeg and the GTA, where communities have welcomed the disruption of such networks.
Cases involving individuals who pose a risk to public safety are referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which decides whether to issue removal orders. A removal order does not automatically result in immediate action. One significant barrier is the lack of co-operation from certain foreign governments, which delays issuing necessary travel documents. This impacts the efficiency of removals, especially for cases subject to enforceable orders. We are working with these countries, and some of these efforts are bearing fruit.
Public understanding is also key. While not every removal is tied to an immediate threat, those who pose a threat to Canadians can be arrested and detained under immigration legislation. The agency relies on close collaboration, both domestically and internationally, to achieve its goals. Public tips submitted through the CBSA's border watch line remain a vital tool for identifying threats, reinforcing community engagement and improving case outcomes.
Investments under the border plan have also allowed the CBSA to expand its resources. The agency has hired additional enforcement case officers to support removals and reduce backlogs. The CBSA is also hiring 1,000 new officers to strengthen frontline operations, including inland investigations and removals.
All players in the public safety portfolio—and, in fact, across the government—take their mandate to protect Canadians extremely seriously. The Canada Border Service Agency's successes reflect the power of collaboration.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the dedication of CBSA staff and their federal partners. The agency's work, supported by law enforcement and international collaboration, is vital to protecting Canadians and maintaining a fair, transparent immigration system.
Once again, thank you for having me here today.
I look forward to answering your questions.
