Public Safety and National Security

The committee studied supplementary estimates (C) for the Department of Public Safety and its portfolio agencies. Appearing were Minister Gary Anandasangaree, along with Erin O'Gorman (President, Canada Border Services Agency), Commissioner Michael Duheme (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), Daniel Rogers (Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service), Talal Dakalbab (Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada), and Tricia Geddes (Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness).

Erin O'Gorman stated that CBSA has hired 50 officers so far, with 90 currently in training and cohorts every five weeks thereafter, aiming to train 750 officers annually at Rigaud to meet the target of 1,000 new personnel over three years. She noted that weekly removals have increased from 400 to 450, but the warrant inventory has grown to 33,000, and she attributed this to a higher inflow of cases. She defended the arrangement with Carfax and Équité for sharing exported vehicle VIN data, citing privacy considerations and positive results in reducing stolen vehicles.

Commissioner Michael Duheme explained that the supplementary estimates funding supports federal policing, cross-border crime, clandestine labs, drug-impaired driving enforcement, and national security review requirements. He acknowledged the Auditor General's finding that the RCMP needs up to 3,400 additional officers, but said the 1,000 new personnel (750 police officers and 250 public service employees) are separate from that gap. He outlined recruitment improvements, including a pilot project to reduce application-to-training time to six months, and noted that the $44-million budget cut represents only 2% of RCMP expenses and will not affect operations or recruitment.

Daniel Rogers said CSIS remains very concerned about foreign interference and transnational repression, and that the supplementary estimates include $9.1 million for network upgrades and review support, though overall funding for foreign interference work has increased outside this request. He noted that the service continues intelligence collection, information sharing with law enforcement, and community engagement to disrupt such threats.

Talal Dakalbab, on his second day as commissioner, said his top priority is public safety and staff security. He acknowledged challenges including aging infrastructure, an aging inmate population with greater medical needs, rising mental health and drug issues, and increasingly violent federally regulated crimes. He committed to investigating allegations of pseudonyms being used to avoid access to information requests, and to reporting back on the number of escapes from minimum security involving inmates placed there via security-level overrides.

Tricia Geddes stated that the government has multiple studies on a comprehensive approach to reducing gun crime, and that the firearms confiscation program is one element among many investments. On disaster financial assistance, she said the funding formula fluctuates based on invoices from provinces and territories, and that the $156-million figure in the departmental plan is not a fixed cut.

The minister stated that 23 individuals credibly determined to be IRGC members remain in Canada and are being aggressively pursued for removal, with one removal scheduled shortly. He said the 1,000 new RCMP personnel are strictly for federal policing, including border security, and that the government is committed to implementing the Auditor General's recommendations on RCMP recruitment. He also noted that the firearms buyback program is voluntary and that compliance with the law is not voluntary after the amnesty expires on October 30, 2026.