Dominic LeBlanc

[Public Safety, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the safety and security of children who participate in the mother-child program is obviously a top priority for the Correctional Service of Canada. It is important to understand that this program has existed for decades, including during the time that Mr. Harper was prime minister of Canada. There are eligibility criteria and protocols to participate in this program. It includes child welfare screening done by competent provincial authorities. The member opposite should be careful before he tries to politicize such tragic circumstances and these most heinous crimes.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it is completely irresponsible to pretend that they can solve the problem by adding to the existing misinformation about the security of our border.

I would ask our colleague to be more responsible before repeating slogans that I am sure his head office has forced on him. That is not in the interest of Canadians or in the interest of the Canadian economy.

What is in our interest is to work with the Americans, to support Canadian law enforcement agencies and their American partners in maintaining a safe, secure border while preserving its integrity, as is the case now.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, it would appear that the only plan the Conservatives have is to think up silly new rhymes in question period. What we said at the committee that the member referred to a few moments ago is something we have said for many months: We will continue to invest additional resources in the important work of the CBSA and of the RCMP.

We are obviously looking at all ideas that would help strengthen the security posture at our border. We believe that the security of our border is currently ensured. We believe in the integrity of our borders. We believe in working with the Americans and in continuing to always look to do more.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, December 3rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we have made clear, and the Prime Minister repeated it again just a few minutes ago, that we will continue to support the important work done by the women and men who work for the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We think it is unfortunate the previous Conservative government cut the money available for this important work.

We have also said that we are prepared to increase both human resources and technology and equipment to support the important work that CBSA and the RCMP do. We will do that in collaboration with our American partners, and we still have a lot of confidence in the work that is being done.

[Indigenous Affairs, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we thank our colleague for that important question. We obviously share her concern and concern of all Canadians when we see these tragic outcomes.

I have talked to the RCMP commissioner, the leadership of the RCMP, about this. I have had a chance to talk to indigenous leaders and territorial premiers about this. We share our colleague's concern about moving toward a circumstance where we can have more indigenous police forces and include indigenous communities in the important law enforcement that Canadians expect in their communities, and we want to do that in partnership with them. We will continue to do that important work and think of the families of these victims at all times.

[Public Safety, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague from Windsor West's support for the extraordinary women and men who work for the Canada Border Services Agency. Like him, I had an opportunity to meet many of these women and men who serve in protecting the security of our country and do very important work.

I was glad the member highlighted the draconian cuts that the previous Conservative government made to the Canada Border Services Agency. I am happy to tell him that we have reversed those cuts and have hired considerably more border services officers. The good news is that we are going to continue to do more as well.

[Public Safety, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague across the way has a list of things that our government has actually done. We have worked with our law enforcement. We have invested more to reverse the cuts made by the former Conservative government.

If my colleague is serious about our country's national security, I suggest that he encourage his boss to obtain the security clearance needed to access information that will help protect his political party and caucus. For example, when it comes to India's foreign interference, it might be a good idea for the Leader of the Opposition to do that.

[Public Safety, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we had a very cordial and constructive conversation with our American partners on Friday evening. We talked about security at the Canada-U.S. border over the decades and the integration of Canadian police forces with their American partners. We talked, for example, about the important work that the RCMP is doing in the fight against fentanyl, which has led to drug seizures and significant arrests, often in partnership with our American allies.

We will continue to do this work for the safety of Canadians.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, one of the first things in our plan was to reverse some of the draconian cuts that the previous Conservative government made to the brave women and men who work in our Canadian border services. We take the issue of border integrity and border security seriously, as do the Americans.

Our discussion on Friday evening with our American friends was very much about the joint work that we could continue to do together. That work has been done for decades between Canadian and American law enforcement. It has kept both countries safe and secure, and we are prepared to continue to do more as well.

[Employment, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to disagree with my friend for Edmonton—Griesbach, but the idea that we came back empty-handed is completely false. He knows very well that we had a productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future cabinet secretaries. The Prime Minister, of course, spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs. We also discussed with our American friends the negative impact those tariffs could have on their economy and affordability in the United States as well. I think the commitment from President-elect Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty-handed.