The committee was studying the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) removal processes and inventory. Appearing were Erin O’Gorman, President of the CBSA; Aaron McCrorie, Vice-President of Intelligence and Enforcement; and Carl Desmarais, Director General of the Inland Enforcement Directorate.
Erin O’Gorman explained that the removals inventory contains about 30,000 cases, with roughly 400 people removed each week while 450 to 550 new cases enter the inventory weekly. She noted that the wanted inventory sits at about 33,000 individuals who have failed to appear for removal, and that the agency prioritizes cases involving criminality, security, organized crime, and human rights violations. She recommended that Bill C-12 could help reduce the flow of inadmissible people, and acknowledged that some countries do not provide travel documents, requiring diplomatic efforts through Global Affairs.
Aaron McCrorie detailed that the CBSA actively manages removals inventories by prioritizing serious inadmissibility cases, with about 1% of the total inventory and 2.2% of the wanted inventory involving criminality. He noted that in the last 12 months, 845 individuals with serious criminality were removed, and that the CBSA works with law enforcement to use the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to remove individuals involved in organized crime even when criminal charges are not laid. He disagreed with the suggestion that a directive from Bill C-75 mandated unconditional release, stating that each case is assessed on its merits and that the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) makes detention decisions.
Carl Desmarais clarified that of the 550 officers dedicated to removals, about 380 are armed and tooled, and that criminal investigators are not tasked with locating foreign nationals subject to removal orders. He explained that the IRB determines detention, not the CBSA, and that escorted removals occur in 10% to 15% of cases based on risk assessment. He also noted that individuals deemed inadmissible on serious grounds have limited appeal options, but allegations are put before an independent tribunal at the IRB.
During the meeting, members raised concerns about workplace discrimination and harassment at the CBSA. O’Gorman acknowledged that the agency has problems with harassment and discrimination, and that systems and processes need improvement, but she did not agree that investigations are not impartial. She also stated that 57 new officers have been hired as part of the government’s commitment to add 1,000 officers, with more expected by the end of the fiscal year.
The committee then debated and adopted a motion to undertake a study of at least five meetings on systemic discrimination, procedural misconduct, and lack of accountability at the CBSA. A subsequent motion to study container clearance requirements at Canadian ports was introduced but not voted on. Another motion calling on the government to rescind the divestment plan for the Penticton Shooting Sports Association was amended to remove the requirement to report to the House, and the amended motion was adopted. The committee also adopted routine budgets for studies on Bill C-8 and Bill C-12.
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