Mr. Speaker, I would invite the minister to come to my riding to see first-hand that the numbers he just gave are not at all effective.
Budget cuts have consequences. Ignoring the problems, as the Conservatives are doing, will not make them go away. What did this government do for border security? It cut $143 million from our customs budget. This translates into the following: more crime in border communities, increased risk that our children will come into contact with drugs, and more illegal weapons on our streets—all contributing to a more dangerous Canada.
Can the Conservatives tell us why they have walked away from their responsibility to protect border communities?