Public Safety Committee on May 28th, 2026

[Erin O'Gorman, President, Canada Border Services Agency]

To reinforce this point, I will say we have agreements with our United States colleagues for emergency services. As the minister said, we are aligning our schedules. It is challenging when one point of entry is open while the other is not. So this work has been very important. We also entered into additional agreements so that, in the event of an emergency, services can be provided on both sides of the border.

I'm not sure if your question included infrastructure, but we've made significant investments in Lacolle, as well as smaller investments at smaller points of entry. We're ensuring we have replacement infrastructure across the country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Unfortunately, that is all the time we have, Ms. Dandurand.

Mrs. DeBellefeuille, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Minister, welcome to you and your team.

I am going to speak to you about a subject that is of great concern to you: human trafficking.

I was surprised to find that, according to Statistics Canada data, between 2009 and 2019, Quebec ranked second, and that from 2019 to 2024, Quebec dropped to fourth place. In trying to understand this decrease, I realized that, since 2019, Statistics Canada has been using data from the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, in addition to cases reported to the police.

But that is problematic, because you received a report from the Quebec Coalition Against Human Trafficking indicating that francophones in Quebec are not receiving quality, professional service from the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. I don't know whether you are aware of this. Did you receive this report?

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

I have not read the report, but I will say I am familiar with the situation. In fact, when I was in Sherbrooke—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Excuse me for interrupting, Minister. I asked if you had received it. You told me you hadn't read it, but that you were aware of the issue. That was your answer.

I'll just summarize what the report says, because it's important for the people following our work. In 90% of cases, when francophones call, an anglophone answers. They are then redirected to a subcontractor. The group you fund to the tune of $12.5 million uses a subcontractor. However, the subcontractor does not understand the Quebec accent, so they direct people to 811, the Info-Santé service.

In my view, the group you are funding to the tune of $12.5 million is not providing an adequate, high-quality and professional service to francophone victims or survivors of human trafficking. Do you intend to investigate this matter and demand that the group take corrective action? That is my first question.

Here is my second question. In my opinion, it would be simpler for you to fund the Quebec Coalition Against Human Trafficking to provide 100% French-language services with professionals who are familiar with the resource network. Currently, the subcontractor responding in French is based in Toronto. They do not understand and are not familiar with the resources.

Will you commit to making significant changes so that Quebec francophones have access to the same service, of the same quality, as that offered to anglophones?

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

Thank you, Madame DeBellefeuille.

I did have a round table when I was in Sherbrooke, probably in the fall, where we heard from those who were helping survivors and family members on the lack of French language services. It is something that has come to my attention.

I wasn't familiar with this particular issue vis-à-vis the provision of fluency in French. It's something that I will certainly look into, and I will get back to you.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

I am going to hand you a document written in French. I do want to tell you, however, that last April, coalition members met with representatives from your department, but there was no follow-up.

This is not a trivial matter; it involves human trafficking. As we speak, francophones are being discriminated against and marginalized. It seems to me that with a report and a meeting on April 15, things should have moved forward. It's now the end of May, so I'm quite disappointed—if not angry—about the way your department is treating the Quebec Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

Will you commit to meeting with representatives of the coalition promptly and ensuring its funding so it can offer a human trafficking hotline in Quebec in French and with a Quebec accent?

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

I'm usually very transparent in these things. I absolutely undertake to do that. I would also look for your assistance as we meet with them, to ensure that the appropriate services are extended.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

With the time I have left, I'll tell you frankly that the group in question is widely recognized in Quebec for its expertise, and it doesn't understand your department's complacency. It would be much simpler if it were Quebec francophones helping people who are—let's face it—largely in the Montreal area, because the group you're funding uses subcontractors who do speak passable French, but who lack the professional skills or local knowledge to take action. I expect there to be changes, because today, many people are following our work, and we're talking about human trafficking here.

Can I count on a commitment from you and your deputy minister to make a change, and can I hope for funding for the Quebec organization that deals with human trafficking?

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

I will undertake to look into this and ensure that there's fairness. I'll also undertake to ensure that for the language of choice, particularly French, there are adequate and appropriate levels of French-language fluency in the delivery of these programs.

That's the mandate we have. We certainly have that built into all of our agreements. We will certainly speak to the provider and are more than glad to get back to you on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Thank you very much, Mrs. DeBellefeuille.

Ms. Kirkland, the floor is yours for five minutes.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you, Minister, for being here today. My questions are for you.

Initially, I'll be asking just a few yes-or-no questions as we start out. I promise there are no tricks here.

I think you would agree that public trust is essential when Parliament considers legislation affecting Canadians' privacy and digital communications. Would you agree that public trust is essential?

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

My role, and especially that of public safety—

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Is that a yes? Come on. Is it yes or no?

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

I don't do yes-and-no answers. If I may—

[A voice]

Oh, oh!

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'm sorry. I'm going to stop you for just a second. It's really a simple question.

Is public trust essential when we're making laws in this country that affect people's privacy and digital communications?

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

Public trust is always important and essential in all of my functions as a minister.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Okay. That's perfect—amazing.

Would you also agree that trust can be undermined when Canadians are unclear about how their personal data might be accessed or protected under the law?

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

Trust certainly can be broken or challenged in a number of circumstances, including when misinformation is out there in social media, when basic issues are misconstrued—

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Yes, I agree—

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

—when things that are not in a particular bill, for example, are espoused as being—

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'm going to interrupt. I'm sorry. I just want to get back to....

I agree with what you say about things being misrepresented. That's why time is essential. For people to understand something, they need time to process and to absorb.

Do you think that lawful access powers, for instance, as in Bill C-22, must always meet necessity and proportionality standards?

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

I've spoken about the bill on a number of occasions. I would say that the bill in front of this committee right now certainly attempts to balance—I wouldn't say perfectly—a number of competing interests. Any additional powers and authorities given to law enforcement are punctuated by ensuring that the privacy rights of individuals are protected, and there's actual judicial oversight and authorization. In areas where—

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'll stop you there because that answers my question.

Should Canadians have absolute clarity, then, about when and how their private communications can be accessed by the state? They should understand. Is that not correct?