44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 17, 2023 02:00PM
- May/17/23 2:38:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is an ecological crisis as well as a safety crisis.
The government is the only one that is unaware of the crime, the threats and the violence that prevented a legal solution. More than 2,000 indigenous people are living in fear, as are the non-indigenous people in the surrounding area.
After years of turning a blind eye to the situation, when will the government act with the resolve this situation warrants?
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- May/17/23 2:51:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Safety has issued a new directive to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, a directive that was so important that it had to be made public. It says, and I quote: “CSIS will seek, wherever possible...to ensure that parliamentarians are informed of threats...directed at them”.
What does that mean? Should the directive not be telling CSIS that it always has to inform parliamentarians of any threat?
What does “wherever possible” mean? Whose discretion is it up to? Are we talking about CSIS, the minister, or maybe my brother-in-law Luc? Who?
Quite frankly, this directive is causing more confusion and concern than it is providing reassurance. Will the minister explain it clearly?
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- May/17/23 2:51:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's question because it is important that all MPs are aware of any threats that are made against any of us because a threat against one is a threat against us all.
We know that the hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills was subjected to threats, and he was not aware of them. That is why the minister did give a directive to CSIS to ensure that all parliamentarians of the House are informed of any threats whatsoever.
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- May/17/23 2:52:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have been calling for an independent commission of public inquiry for months. From threats against MPs to funding for the Trudeau Foundation, everything we are hearing justifies a serious inquiry. The government is telling us that it is taking action. How?
With these new directives, CSIS will seek, whenever possible, to ensure, in a timely manner, that parliamentarians are perhaps informed of any threats, if necessary. Wow. I feel so reassured.
Does the minister honestly believe that these directives are going to solve the problem of foreign interference?
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- May/17/23 2:53:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows full well that these directives are part of our government's ongoing efforts to counter foreign interference. We have said so publicly. The Prime Minister said so last week, and the Minister of Public Safety said it again this week. Threats or interference involving members or parliamentarians are completely unacceptable.
We have taken the necessary measures to ensure that the professional intelligence agencies take the matter in hand, work with members and resolve the situation appropriately.
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- May/17/23 3:21:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we take all threats from Russia, China and other foreign actors very seriously. As the hon. member knows, the investigation of these Chinese police stations is being conducted by the RCMP, and the RCMP will continue to conduct investigations as information comes forward.
Canadians can be assured not only that we are taking this seriously, but that they are safe here in Canada.
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