Parliamentary Committee Notes: Speaking Notes for The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety
Appearance Before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
2022-23 Main Estimates
Ottawa, Ontario
May 19, 2022
Check Against Delivery
Word Count: 931 (7 mins)
Mr. Chair, Honourable Committee Members,
Thank you for the invitation to join you today.
I’m pleased to present the 2022-23 Main Estimates for the public safety portfolio.
I’m joined today by (TBC):
Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada;
Anne Kelly, Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada;
John Ossowski, President of the Canada Border Services Agency; and
Brenda Lucki, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
[Others TBC.]
I want to begin by stating that I truly appreciate the Committee’s studies on matters related to keeping Canadians safe.
I’ve had the opportunity to speak to you several times on gun control and gang prevention, on both of which I’ll expand in a moment.
I’ve also addressed this Committee regarding various security issues around the Freedom Convoy we witnessed in January and February.
And I look forward to speaking to you in a few weeks as you continue your study on Canada’s security posture in relation to Russia.
Before I get into the numbers, I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks to the many dedicated professionals in the public safety portfolio, who work around the clock to keep Canadians safe.
That’s especially remarkable during a time of uncertainty – a global pandemic, an unfolding war in Ukraine, protests across the country, and many more challenges affecting Canadians.
Protecting the public is one of the Government’s first duties, and among the highest of our obligations as Parliamentarians.
It’s why Canada’s Public Safety Portfolio is the largest non-military portfolio in Government.
And it’s what these Estimates reflect for my portfolio – ensuring we can live up to that obligation, and back up their work with solid and reliable funding.
Mr. Chair, on a portfolio-wide basis, the total authorities sought in the Main Estimates will result in funding approvals of $11.3 billion for the Public Safety Portfolio for this fiscal year.
That would result in a net increase of $1.2 billion, or 12 per cent over last year’s Estimates.
You will see that, year over year for the portfolio, funding levels remain stable.
I’ll point to four main highlights:
For Public Safety Canada, the total funding sought is $883.5 million, representing a net decrease of $172 million over the previous year.
For the Canada Border Services Agency, the total funding sought is $2.3 billion, representing a net increase of $294.6 million, which includes compensation adjustments.
For the Correctional Service of Canada, total funding sought is $3.1 billion, representing a $257 million increase.
And for the RCMP, the total funding sought is $4.2 billion, representing an increase of $794.5 million.
That includes a net increase for negotiated salary adjustments stemming from the new National Police Federation collective agreement, and an increase in Grants and Contributions to compensate members of the RCMP for injuries received in the performance of duty.
Mr. Chair, I’ll speak briefly to the key items in the total number, to break that down.
There is a $345.8 million decrease in funding regarding the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program, or DFAA.
That’s based on forecasts from provinces and territories for expected disbursements under the DFAA for this fiscal year.
Due to the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, the DFAA funding levels may be significantly adjusted throughout the course of the fiscal year.
For example, departmental reference levels will be increased in 2022-23, in order to provide advance payments to the province of British Columbia for several flooding events, including the devastating flooding disaster which occurred in November 2021.
Over the past 10 years, the annual DFAA payments have ranged from $99 million in 2012, to over $2 billion planned for this fiscal year.
The program has contributed more in the past ten years than it did in the previous 42 years.
It is worth noting that unforeseen circumstances, for example a new disaster or a last minute amendment to the timing and amount of a province’s payment request, can drastically impact the DFAA’s annual appropriations.
Mr. Chair, as I’ve noted, also in these Main Estimates is a $305.4 million increase for negotiated salary adjustments stemming from the new National Police Federation collective agreement, and $230.3 million increase to help compensate members of the RCMP for injuries received in the performance of duty.
You will also note a $141.6 million increase in funding for the Correctional Service of Canada for class action lawsuits, and $107.5 million for the CBSA to address compensation adjustments.
Mr. Chair, these items represent the most significant changes in appropriations.
As Minister of Public Safety, my top priority remains keeping Canadians safe.
And I want to highlight that’s strongly reflected in the Government’s most recent federal Budget.
My priorities include strengthening Canada’s firearms laws.
Budget 2022 reaffirmed our commitment to implementing a mandatory buy-back program to ensure the assault-style firearms banned in 2020 are safety removed from our communities, for good.
That’s on top of other efforts to combat illegal firearms, for example by committing to increasing the maximum penalty for firearms trafficking, smuggling and related offences from 10 to 14 years imprisonment.
It’s also on top of $250 million in funding I recently announced, to establish the Building Safer Communities Fund, supporting communities across the country in preventing and combatting gun and gang violence in their communities.
I’ll also highlight that Budget 2022 includes substantial funding to support how we fight cybercrime, defend critical government and private sector systems, and increase our collective resilience.
Mr. Chair, in uncertain times, steady leadership in keeping the public safe is mission critical.
And that’s just what this Government, and these Estimates, are doing today.
I look forward to your questions. Thank you.
- Date modified: