Parliamentary Committee Notes: Speaking Notes for The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Appearance before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Supplementary Estimates “B”

December 3, 2024
Ottawa, ON

Monsieur Chair, dear colleagues

I’d like to begin my remarks, by congratulating you Mr. Chair, on your recent election and what will no doubt be your successful stewardship of this Committee.

Last March, when I appeared before this committee to discuss my mandate, we talked about the work the government is doing to stop criminals who try to smuggle drugs and guns into our country, as well as efforts to combat car theft.

We discussed foreign interference and the need to introduce and pass legislation to provide the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) with modern tools to protect Canada and Canadians.

Since that time, law enforcement agencies in Canada have made much progress.

Over the past two years, the Canada Border Services Agency has intercepted more than 13 tons of illegal drugs at land crossings across the country.  In 2023, the CBSA seized more than 900 prohibited firearms and more than 27,000 weapons.

In June 2023, law enforcement agencies across the country participated in a nationwide operation to crack down on the manufacturing and trafficking of ghost guns.

Approximately 440 firearms, traditional and 3D printed, and 52 3D printers were seized.

This operation was made possible due to investments and cooperations.

As well, in October of this year, Federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Investigators took down the largest, most sophistical drug lab in Canada.

The combined fentanyl and precursors seized at this facility could have amounted to over 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl entering our communities or being exported abroad.

On the auto theft front, the Border Services Agency has intercepted more than 2,000 stolen vehicles in railyards and ports to date this year – already exceeding last year’s total.

Early national trends for 2024 show a 17 per cent decline in auto thefts.

Additionally, In October of this year, the RCMP took the unprecedented step of releasing findings with respect to the involvement of agents of the Government of India in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil.

Due to that announcement, and subsequent actions taken by the Government, there has been, to quote the Commissioner of the RCMP, a “significant reduction” to the public safety threat posed.

Additionally, in the supplementary estimates before you, our government is investing $16 million to support the RCMP’s foreign interference-related criminal investigations.

Those same estimates show CSIS’ budget increasing by more than $53 million this year.

While detailed breakdowns of CSIS expenditures are classified, I can say that the tools available to CSIS have been strengthened and modernized with the passage of Bill C-70.

This crucial funding will ensure CSIS can continue to keep Canadians safe from threats, such as violent extremism and foreign interference.

Should these estimates pass, the CBSA’s budget will be 42% greater than it was under the previous Conservative Government.

CSIS’ budget will have increased 48% compared to 2014, and under our stewardship the RCMP will be receiving 101% more funding to do their important work than they did under Prime Minister Harper.

These investments, and the results that are being achieved, attest to our government’s commitment to public safety.

Last year, our government proposed a $637 million increase to the budgets of our public safety department and agencies.

This year, it is over $2 billion.

In 2023, our honourable Conservative colleagues chose to vote against this increased spending.

I hope this year will be different.

Investments found in these supplementary estimates will combat auto theft, advance the work the government is doing to address foreign interference, provide support to those experiencing violent hate, and keep communities from Malahat to Medicine Hat to Moncton safe.

Mr. Chair, our government will continue to make responsible investments to ensure the security of our country.

I hope that we can count on the support of all parliamentarians to quickly adopt the supplementary estimates.

Thank you for your attention.

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