Evidence of meeting #8 for Public Safety and National Security in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fentanyl.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Abdelhaq Sari Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.
This is the second time this has happened. Both are talking at the same time. Seriously, we don't understand anything they're saying, and I think the interpreters are also having trouble doing their job.
It would really be appropriate for one person to speak at a time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jean-Yves Duclos
I agree. For the sake of good interpretation, it is the responsibility of everyone, including, if I may suggest, the staff, the minister and the secretary of state.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Minister, a spelling bee? You equate 30,000 lost deportations to a spelling bee?
I'm going to ask you again. Do you know where they are, yes or no?
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
These people are going through a system of enforcement and removals. I can tell you categorically that this year we are on target to remove over 20,000 individuals who are awaiting deportation removals. Next year we hope to enhance that.
Last year we had over 1,800 removals.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
I'm going to reclaim my time here. With all due respect, Chair, I asked a very concise question, and I didn't get a concise answer.
Minister, you do not know where these people are. In fact, the CBSA says—
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I have been attending committee meetings for over 10 years. Generally, in these meetings, ministers do arrive with their officials in the event that they want to provide additional details. I don't quite understand why Mr. Caputo, right off the bat said that the minister isn't allowed to consult with them to provide further details. That is the norm around here. That is the procedure around here.
I would ask Mr. Caputo to provide the minister the opportunity, if need be, to consult with his officials who have taken the time to be here with us today.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
On that same point of order, first of all, it's not a point of order. The Standing Orders don't tell us that we have to ask our questions in a certain way. I will ask my questions on behalf of Canadians, not according to how the Liberals think I should.
How about this, Minister?
You won't tell us where 30,000 people are. How many of them are lost? How many do you not know where they are?
Just give a number.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Caputo, there are 30,000 people who are going through the system, and they are going to be removed. They are in the queue. We know their addresses. We know where they reside. Many of them have reporting requirements. They regularly report to our CBSA offices across Canada. They are sometimes reporting by telephone.
There is ongoing monitoring for those who are being removed. It is not in all cases, but the vast majority of cases.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
I beg your pardon. You said that you know where they are.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Actually, I have a minute and 22 seconds more, Mr. Chair. The point of order should not count as my time.
Minister, this was asked in committee. I believe it was Mr. McCrorie who said, “We don't track the location of each and every individual.”
You just told us that you know where everybody is and you track their locations, yet the VP of CBSA contradicted you in a story from Blacklock's yesterday. Are you wrong or is he wrong?
Liberal
Liberal
Jacques Ramsay Liberal La Prairie—Atateken, QC
The minister said he didn't know where all the individuals were. Mr. Caputo just said that the minister knew where they were. He should at least listen to the answer.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jean-Yves Duclos
That isn't a point of order. Rather, those are relevant pieces of information, but they can't unduly interrupt the conversation, the exchanges between the minister and the member. Even if everyone agrees with that and, I think, fully understands that, there is an expectation that the conversation will be fluid.
I would also like to inform Mr. Caputo that we will indeed give him another 30 seconds to take into account the interruptions. In the future, we'll remove points of order from the discussion time since they aren't part of the planned discussion.
You have the floor again, Mr. Caputo.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
Thank you.
Those are two dubious points of order when we are talking about how the minister says that they know where everybody is, of the 30,000, and a vice-president for CBSA, in direct contradiction, says, “We don't track the location of each and every individual.”
Minister, are you right that you know where they are, or is the VP right?
I see you just got a note. Which is it?
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Caputo, we have addresses for individuals who are in the removal queue.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC
You are telling us that you are confident you know where those 30,000 people are.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Not every single one of them, but I believe we have—
Conservative