Public Safety Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

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

That’s good. You’ve answered my question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Mrs. DeBellefeuille, if we speak at the same time as the minister, the interpreters can’t do their job, whether they’re working from French to English or from English to French.

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

You’re right, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

I would encourage everyone to ensure that we understand each other not only in one language, but also in the other.

You have 40 seconds left, Mrs. DeBellefeuille.

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

Minister, I am pleased that you have confirmed that all officers hired will receive 18 weeks of training, including weapons training, and that they will be able to intervene directly at the borders.

That said, can you explain to me how you’re going to train them, seeing as the infrastructure does not exist?

Will the Chilliwack project go ahead?

Did you receive the $20 million requested to open another training centre?

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

I would say that neither you nor I are experts with respect to training. That's why we have the president here. I would like to invite her to elaborate on the plan that she has, including which facilities to use.

I think if you want to hear a more wholesome answer—

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

You’ll have to wait until the next round of questions to finish your answer because we must now give the floor to Mr. Lloyd.

Mr. Lloyd, you have five minutes.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Thank you.

Minister, I appreciate you talking about the rise in hate in Canada and the meetings that you said you've had with synagogues and mosque communities.

Are you aware that 123 churches have been burned, vandalized or desecrated in the last four years in Canada?

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

Mr. Lloyd, yes, I am aware that a number of places of worship, including churches, have been vandalized.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Have you met with any of those congregations, Minister?

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

I have not met with those specific congregations, but I have met with many members of different church and faith groups.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

You haven't met with any of the members of the congregations in Canada from the churches that have been subject to hate crimes over the last four years in this country.

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

I have not.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Is it because hate crimes against Christians aren't a priority for this government, Minister?

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

That's absolutely incorrect.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

You said you've met with synagogues and mosques, which I do appreciate—those communities need your support, Minister—but Christian communities also need your support.

Why have you not met with any of those communities, Minister?

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

I can tell you that I meet with faith leaders. I meet with Christian leaders across Canada all the time. I've met with—

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Thank you. I'm going to move on to the next question.

There have been allegations made that an Antifa member threw smoke bombs into a church service in Montreal this past summer. The allegations are that they are a government employee who works on a military base outside of Montreal.

Are you aware of these allegations, and are they being investigated?

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

Allegations such as those are investigated by the police of jurisdiction. In this case, it would be the City of Montreal police.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Considering that this a potential terrorism case, does this concern you? Are you at all concerned about, potentially, a government employee being a member of an organization like Antifa and committing a crime like throwing smoke bombs in a church service?

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

I'm concerned about every instance of hate at any place, including churches. Certainly, if the allegation involves government employees, that makes me more concerned.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Thank you.

Minister, prominent members of your caucus have called for the banning of the SKS. These are hunting rifles that are used by indigenous people and many others.

Can you confirm to this committee—yes or no—whether your government is planning on banning the SKS?

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

No. What I can say is that the expert panel is tasked with coming up with recommendations—

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

To clarify, are you saying “no, we can't confirm” or “no, we are not banning the SKS”?

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

No, we are not.