Public Safety and National Security

This House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security meeting studied Canada-U.S. border security. Appearing were Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of Canada’s Fight Against Fentanyl; Commissioner Michael Duheme of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and Erin O'Gorman, President of the Canada Border Services Agency.

Kevin Brosseau said his role is to coordinate and integrate Canada’s response to fentanyl across supply and demand, working with domestic and international partners. He noted that Canada is not a significant source of fentanyl to the U.S., with about one-tenth of one percent of U.S. seizures attributable to the northern border, but that any amount is too much. He recommended supporting Bill C-2, saying its provisions on Canada Post would help prevent drug trafficking in rural and northern communities.

Commissioner Michael Duheme confirmed that the RCMP received $667 million from the $1.3-billion border plan, which will be invested in technology, including portable radars, drones and Black Hawk helicopters. He said the RCMP will hire 1,000 employees over four years, including 750 police officers and 250 public service employees, and that training will be split into basic and specialized components. He noted that the Leader of the Opposition has not met with RCMP senior leadership during his tenure, and that negative comments about the organization affect morale.

Erin O'Gorman said the CBSA will hire 1,000 new employees over three to four years, with 800 uniformed officers receiving 18 weeks of training at Rigaud and 200 operational staff hired laterally for roles such as trade officers, auditors and intelligence analysts. She stated there are 30,000 removals in progress and 32,000 warrants for individuals being actively sought, noting that these numbers are fluid and publicly available. She disagreed with the implication that the 200 operational staff would be less effective, arguing they are essential to CBSA’s complex operations.

A procedural debate occurred on a motion by Jacques Ramsay to schedule witness lists and meetings for the study of Bill C-12, with alternation between Bill C-8 and the current border study. Dane Lloyd moved to adjourn debate on the motion, and the committee agreed.