House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was aluminum.
Jeremy Patzer Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Madam Speaker, I want to ask the member opposite about the costs of running programs like this. Taxpayers are often quite concerned about government-run programs like this being hugely expensive. We are already looking at $150 million for oversight groups that are already in existence.
What assurances do we have that taxpayers will get value for the massive cost of this program?
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, most Canadians, if not all, have dealt with the CBSA at some point or other when travelling. We never know what can happen, what kind of event will take place and what kinds of dealings we will have with the CBSA. Hopefully all Canadians will be able to benefit from these services and from the money being put into these services.
Élisabeth Brière LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill C-3.
I am in favour of a complaints and review mechanism for the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA. This type of proposal goes to the very heart of our government's core values and objectives.
Each minister of the crown has a mandate letter that clearly states:
We have committed to an open, honest government that is accountable to Canadians, lives up to the highest ethical standards and applies the utmost care and prudence in the handling of public funds.
We want to raise the bar even further on the transparency and integrity of government.
As Prime Minister Trudeau said, if we want Canadians to trust their government—
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes
I would remind the hon. member that she must not use members' names in the House.
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Madam Speaker, if we want Canadians to trust their government, we need a government that trusts Canadians. I would add that this position has been repeated many times in the House, and not just when Bill C-98 was introduced.
On that note, I would also like to thank the senator who introduced Bill S-205 in 2015. That bill set out a number of the recommendations that we are proposing today.
Beyond the CBSA, our government's desire to improve the transparency and accountability of all our security agencies is clear.
For example, in 2013, a member proposed the creation of a national security committee of parliamentarians, but unfortunately the House rejected that proposal. The following year, a member introduced a bill that would have amended the National Defence Act in order to improve the transparency and accountability of the Communications Security Establishment.
Obviously, parliamentarians and Canadians want our intelligence and security agencies to be as accountable and transparent as possible. When our government took office in 2015, we knew we had to take action. During the government consultations on national security, experts and members of the public told us that we risked losing the trust of the public if our security agencies did not become more transparent and accountable.
After all, these measures create an effective and efficient government.
They help us oversee the exercise of authority and deliver results for Canadians.
The bill established the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, which is the heart of Bill C-59 and represents a historic change for Canada.
The creation of this agency resulted in an integrated and comprehensive review of all national security and intelligence activities, including broader access to information across the government.
The government also created the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, a group tasked with reviewing Canada's national security and intelligence organizations.
As members know, this committee now has extraordinary access to classified information so that it can scrutinize security and intelligence activities.
The creation of this committee filled a significant gap and allowed us achieve two objectives: guaranteeing that our security agencies are working effectively, and protecting the rights and freedoms of Canadians.
The government also adopted a national security transparency commitment across government to give Canadians better access to information. All of these measures will help build public confidence in our security agencies. The RCMP, CSIS and Correctional Service Canada are already subject to solid accountability measures.
We know that similar steps have to be taken for our border agency.
We need a transparent system to ensure that complaints regarding the conduct and quality of services of CBSA employees are handled appropriately.
This is what Bill C-3 aims to do.
This bill would build on all of the government reforms I mentioned earlier and would increase the accountability of our national security apparatus.
Canadians can rest assured that an independent review body would be handling complaints relating to the conduct of border officers.
Bill C-3 would expand and strengthen the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, the CRCC, which is the RCMP's review agency. This commission would become the public complaints and review commission. The new commission would be responsible for handling complaints and reviews for the Canada Border Services Agency and for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Anyone interacting with CBSA employees who wishes to file a complaint about the employee's conduct or quality of services would be able to go through this enhanced commission.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission could also conduct reviews of the Canada Border Services Agency of its own initiative or at the request of the Minister of Public Safety. However, matters of national security would be addressed by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency with help from the CRCC.
Departments and agencies within Canada's public safety community are very familiar with this new transparency and accountability model. I know that they understand that their ability to respect this model has a direct impact on public trust, their credibility and their day-to-day activities.
The government knows that with the creation of the independent mechanism proposed in Bill C-3, Canadians will be much more comfortable filing a complaint. We will thereby greatly improve the accountability of our public safety apparatus' oversight mechanism.
I encourage all members of the House to join me and support Bill C-3 at second reading.
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Madam Speaker, my question pertains to the complexity, sometimes, of the environment of oversight organizations. I saw a number cited in the backgrounder on this bill. We spend about $150 million on various agencies that do oversight, which obviously is an important function.
Other members spoke earlier today about duplication. People worry that it may take a long time for them to get an answer or that they may not receive correct directions on how to find an answer or file a complaint.
I am wondering if the member could comment on that, to assure Canadians that this legislation is money well spent and that there would be an easy, directed process and a timeline for an outcome that Canadians could have confidence in when they make a submission to the oversight commission.
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
I think that the government has always sought to establish the best commission and the best organizations possible to meet the needs of all Canadians.
Bill C-3 effectively seeks to ensure that people can file complaints, feel safe and rest assured that their rights will be respected by border services officers. We hope that these questions will be answered in the next stages this bill will follow through to its adoption.
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech.
My riding, Châteauguay—Lacolle, is home to an important border crossing. I am talking about the crossing in Lacolle, on Highway 15. Thousands of people, individuals and families, cross that border for tourist and business reasons. Goods are also shipped by businesses for export and import between the United States and Canada.
What changes does Bill C-3 make? We sometimes hear stories about people held up at the border or being asked questions they found inappropriate. What changes does this bill make for ordinary citizens?
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
Our government is committed to ensuring that border services earn the trust of the Canadian people, and we are working on strengthening accountability. Bill C-3 will facilitate the safe and efficient flow of people and goods. It goes even further by introducing an oversight body that will allow people to file complaints more easily. I think this will help the people in the riding.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, will this commission be empowered to deal with illegal or improper searches of the phones of Canadians, or will it be powerless to stop U.S. agents from collecting information?
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
As for the rights granted to the commission, I cannot answer that question too specifically. One thing is certain: Our aim in introducing this bill is to strengthen Canadians' confidence and make sure they feel comfortable dealing with border service officers and filing complaints, when circumstance warrant it. I am confident that all the necessary mechanisms will be implemented so that we can address these situations.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Speaker, I will share my time with my colleague, the member for Beauce.
I rise in the House today to support the government's Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. This bill makes two key changes to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. First, it will rename this agency to be called the public complaints and review commission. This bill will also expand the agency's responsibility.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, as it is now named, is an independent agency. It is not part of the RCMP. The commission was created by Parliament in 1988 to ensure that public complaints made about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. The commission receives complaints from the public and conducts reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints. Bill C-3 seeks to expand the oversight responsibility of the commission to include the CBSA in addition to the RCMP.
The CBSA plays a vital role enforcing laws governing trade and travel, while stopping potential threats at Canadian border points. In carrying out these duties, the CBSA relies on border service officers who engage with the public at various points of entry: highway crossings, airports, marine terminals, rail ports and postal facilities.
Border service officers enforce laws and regulations that touch nearly every sector of Canadian society, including our agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors. The CBSA encounters millions of Canadians every year when goods, services and citizens travel from our country to another or return from their journey.
In a constantly changing world with ever-evolving threats, our border service officers work in fast-paced, intense and often stressful environments. CBSA officers, much like RCMP officers, are on the front lines of duty for ensuring the protection of our national security and public safety. They work under significant pressures and are constantly expected to perform to the best of their abilities. It is not an understatement to say that much of our national security and public safety depends on them.
We benefit every day from the hard work these officers put in and, for the vast majority, officers approach their work as professionals and conduct their work responsibly, as expected by the Government of Canada and citizens alike. However, instances of improper or inappropriate conduct from RCMP or CBSA officers can arise from time to time, which may trigger a civilian complaint.
Currently, individuals may launch a complaint against the RCMP for improper attitude, improper use of force, improper use of firearms, improper arrest, neglect of duty and mishandling of property, among other classifications. Many of these classifications could conceivably apply against CBSA officers in specific cases as well. That is why it is reasonable to reinforce existing CBSA procedures to hear comments or complaints about the public's experience with the agency by expanding accountability and oversight of the agency.
These changes in part reflect efforts to ensure that our law enforcement agencies are doing their work and interacting with citizens in an accountable, responsible, professional and respectful manner. It also heightens overall public trust and confidence in these critical institutions.
I am therefore encouraged that within this new minority Parliament, the government is introducing Bill C-3 early in the 43rd Parliament. The government is indicating that it understands this is something we can work on together to support and get passed for the benefit of all Canadians. My constituents want to see this kind of co-operation and I am pleased to be standing in my place saying that we will be supporting this legislation.
As many of my colleagues know, my riding of Niagara Falls is unique in our great country. Geographically, the riding stretches the length of the Niagara peninsula, touching on two of our Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which are connected by the magnificent Niagara River. On the other side of this river is our greatest trading partner and ally, the United States of America.
My riding's connection to the U.S. is close not only in geographic terms, but we are also connected physically by four separate international border crossings that are all situated along the length of the Niagara River. These border crossings are the Queenston Lewiston Bridge in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Whirlpool Bridge and the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, and the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie. As such, the implications of Bill C-3 will be felt directly in my riding by many CBSA officers who work in and call Niagara their home.
Born and raised in Niagara, I am very familiar with the work of the CBSA. Furthermore, in my work with the Niagara Parks Commission for the past 18 years, my understanding and appreciation of their work grew. In this role, I had the pleasure of working with the CBSA on several occasions, in concert with our own Niagara Parks Police, to facilitate large-scale international events and visits to our community.
I understand first-hand the level of experience and professionalism our border officers exhibit when they conduct their work. However, as mentioned before, incidents can arise, and expanding the responsibility of the public complaints and review commission of the CBSA makes sense. In fact, this change would increase my level of confidence in our national security and public safety authorities overall.
It is my hope to see this reasonable bill be passed through the House of Commons, once again, in a timely manner, given its simple reintroduction without change and its recent history of going through the House of Commons parliamentary process with relative ease. Changing legislation is just one important part of implementing Bill C-3; funding it is another. Budget 2019 proposed to invest $24.42 million over five years starting in 2019-20, and $6.83 million per year ongoing, to expand the mandate of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. I look forward to reviewing budget 2020 for any updates to this funding, once budget 2020 has been published and passed later this spring. In the meantime, I am pleased to support Bill C-3 at second reading.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I suspect that the numbers from the budget are more than what the member has just mentioned. We will get another opportunity through another budget. I believe that the government has not only brought through legislation but has also brought through some additional resources.
The member correctly said that this is not new legislation, because it was brought in last year in Bill C-98 and actually passed through. I am wondering if the member would agree that as we go into the standing committee, the government would be open to amendments. That is a positive thing. We have seen in the past that when good amendments were proposed, they received the support of the House.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments earlier about the CBSA officers and the important role that they play at the international airport in Winnipeg.
In terms of the ongoing funding for the commission, my hope is that it would be as robust as the funding that the government places in the CBSA and its front-line officers, and as well in the border infrastructure, which is critically important to my community in ensuring the free flow of goods and people across my community and across our country.
When we get to committee, I look forward to working with all members of this House. In terms of working on amendments that strengthen this legislation, I will be pleased to work with the member on that.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, we made reference to the fact that these border control officers have direct interaction with millions of people every year. I believe there are around 2,500 complaints a year. Even though we need to take all complaints seriously, and deal with them, it is important for us to highlight the high sense of professionalism among those civil servants. We should not underestimate, because we do recognize the importance of having that oversight. It is more of a comment, and the member can provide his thoughts on that if he so chooses.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments on the professionalism and the importance of our CBSA officers. I hope he saw that I stressed that aspect in my comments about the interactions and the important role that they play. During the summer months leading into the election campaign, our local CBSA offices issued a news release that in the first eight months of this year, over 300 illegal firearms were confiscated at the border. These officers play an important role, and they are protecting the safety of Canadians.
I look forward to working with all members of this House to see that this bill is passed.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Speaker, the government seems to be plagued with inefficiency. Does my hon. colleague have an idea as to why it has taken the government an entire mandate to introduce a straightforward piece of legislation that was actually part of the 2015 election platform?
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Madam Speaker, indeed it is a shame that something that should have been quite easy to pass was left to die on the Order Paper when the election was called. That is why I mentioned in my remarks that it was so important for this legislation to be brought forward quickly so that it can be implemented, as well as these important oversight provisions and the funding for the commission. I also hope that funding for both border infrastructure and for CBSA officers is increased over time.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, as this is my first speech, I would like to say hello to the people in my riding of Beauce. I thank them for the opportunity to bring their issues to Ottawa. I have always been proud of the fact that I am from Beauce and I accept with humility the unique opportunity to represent my constituents.
I would especially like to thank my wife, Ginette, my children, grandchildren and my entire family. Without them I would definitely not have been able to get through this campaign, which I found to be very long.
I would also like to acknowledge the members of my team, Derek, Marco and Alexandre. I thank them for minding the store while the House is sitting. I especially want to thank France, who supported me throughout the campaign and who continues to be the rock for my team. I also thank Myriame, Scott and the volunteers for their invaluable assistance during the election campaign. During the campaign I often said that it is faster to go alone, but we can go further together.
I am pleased to take part in the debate on Bill C-3, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, which will create a review body that is at arm's length from the Canada Border Services Agency.
This bill was formerly known as Bill C-98, which the government tried to ram through the last Parliament, no doubt because it wanted to boast about keeping an election promise. Although we are not opposed to Bill C-3, there is still work to do, and it must be done properly.
Interestingly, in the last Parliament, the Liberals waited before following through on their 2015 promise. Right at the end of their term, they pressured all the parties to hurry up and pass Bill C-98.
The Liberals are back at it this time around with Bill C-3. I congratulate them on introducing it at the beginning of the new Parliament instead of doing like they did last time and sweeping it under the rug for their whole term only to make it a big emergency at the end.
Currently, complaints about the conduct of CBSA officers and their services are managed internally. If a member of the public is dissatisfied with the results of the CBSA's internal investigation, that person has no other way to ask for an independent review of the complaint.
I repeat, as with Bill C-98 in the past, our party does not oppose Bill C-3. Canadians expect oversight of our law enforcement agencies. A public complaints commission will improve general oversight and help the CBSA exercise its powers, duties and functions even more effectively.
Our mission is to ensure that the government always keeps Canadians safe. That said, as I mentioned a little earlier in my speech, that work must be done properly.
A few questions remain unanswered, and I hope the government will answer them for Canadians. What bothers me is that Jean-Pierre Fortin, the national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said he was not consulted about this legislation.
Why did the government not ask for input from people working on the front lines, the ones who will be monitored by a new oversight body that will also oversee the organization that represents them?
In my view, a good employer presents its vision, rather than imposing it. Perhaps the government needs to sit down with Mr. Fortin in order to do its job properly.
While I was preparing my speech, I was surprised to learn that only seven witnesses testified on the last Parliament's Bill C-98.
Other than the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the witnesses included the chairperson, general counsel and senior director of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the counsel for the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the acting director general of the law enforcement and border strategies directorate. Those five people report directly to the minister.
Let me repeat what I said before: Is it not imperative that the government present its proposals to people on the front lines instead of making people in its entourage testify? It is the government's duty to consult those affected by the changes, if only to ensure that it is on the right path and not just going by what people in the inner circle say.
I also have a concern about deadlines for processing complaints under Bill C-3. Currently, when we send in forms for our constituents, the delays drag on forever. Whether it is about immigration or employment insurance, people in our riding encounter never-ending wait times.
Once the new organization is in place, can the government guarantee that the complaints process will not drag on forever?
In 2017 and 2018, nearly 40,000 people crossed the border illegally as a result of a tweet from the Prime Minister. Although the government said that those numbers dropped by 15% in 2019, the high volume of arrivals caused major problems for border services officers on the ground and for the CBSA, which had to deploy an incredible amount of resources to Roxham Road and other crossings.
What is worse, Jean-Pierre Fortin, who, as I mentioned earlier, is the president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said that there was a resurgence in illegal border crossings at Roxham Road over the holidays. There were twice as many as usual. CBSA officers have asked for additional staff for this year.
The border management system is overloaded, and that is causing problems. CBSA officers are doing their best to do their job properly. I hope that the government learned from the mistakes it made during its previous term in office. Had it introduced its bill properly the last time instead of trying to do it in a rush, we would not be in this position right now. The bill would have gone through the legislative process, and we could have focused our efforts on other bills that are just as important and require just as much attention as Bill C-3.
I hope the government demonstrates that it can do its job properly if it wants the official opposition to co-operate.
I will end my speech on a more personal note. Since we are talking about a bill on the Canada Border Services Agency, I would like to acknowledge the border services officers at the Jackman crossing, which is located in Saint-Théophile in my riding. I thank all border crossing employees for protecting our borders.
I would also like to acknowledge the members of the RCMP who came to my riding last summer to perform the Musical Ride during Saint-Elzéar's summer festival. The event, which is performed by 32 riders in dress uniform and their horses, attracted a crowd of over 2,000 people, young and old, on the wonderful sunny day of June 23, 2019.
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
Madam Speaker, I sincerely congratulate the hon. member on his inaugural speech in the House of Commons. I also commend him for having earned the trust of the people of Beauce. It is obviously an honour to sit in the House.
He was right to thank border services officers and the RCMP, because the work they do can be quite challenging. We must not forget that. We must monitor the activities of these peace officers, but we must also take into account the fact that their job is not always easy.
My colleague believes in monitoring security officers. Under the Harper government, we proposed creating a security review committee, which we did in fact bring in after the 2015 election. If memory serves, the government of the day was not in favour of this proposal.
The hon. members across the way seem to have had a change of heart. They were not in favour of monitoring then, but they are now. What is more, they are criticizing the government, saying that it did not act quickly enough.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague opposite for his question and, above all, for his kind words in my regard.
I am a new MP. In my previous professional life, in my public and political life, I was always someone who looked ahead. There is no reason why people cannot change their minds.
Personally, I am prepared to support the bill even though I have some concerns, which I just raised and which can be studied in committee.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the residents of Beauce for electing that particular member. We will have high-fives all around, and much celebration. They made a very good choice.
On the topic at hand, I am wondering if my colleague could tell the House a bit about his confusion as to why this legislation was the first priority of the Liberal government when there are so many other things on this particular file that need to be looked at by the government.
I am particularly interested in his further thoughts on the issue of rural crime. Could he talk about some of the things that he would like to see the government do to address rural crime in his great, wonderful, very smart riding.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her kind words.
Beauce is a rural riding that is close to the border. We share a border with the state of Maine. We must pay particular attention to rural crime, but the concern I raised earlier has to do with consultation of people on the ground. I mentioned the name of the union president. It is very important to consult the people at the grassroots level, people who are on the ground, where the action is, in order to properly understand their concerns. It is important to defend Canadians, but the people responsible for defending us must be very well equipped. That is why I was wondering why they were not consulted.
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his maiden speech.
In his remarks, the member made reference to a social media tweet. I would like some clarification on whether he thinks social media are able to undermine our border services, and if there was an influx of refugees, is he able to quantify that for us?
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
I think that the tweet posted at the time had significant implications. Figures have been released on the number of illegal border crossings, especially at Roxham Road. We are talking about some 40,000 people. I do not think that underestimating the implications of this tweet is the best solution.