Question Period Note: Public Safety Portfolio Budget 2021 Items

Announcement of Budget 2021 funding allocated to the Public Safety Portfolio.

• Our government continues to deliver on our commitment to build a safe, inclusive, and resilient Canada, with a focus on threats to public safety, national and cyber security, and natural and climate-related disasters.

Firearms Measures
• Communities across Canada have seen too many tragedies as a result of firearms. Budget 2021 builds on investments made in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, by investing $312 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $41.4 million ongoing, to Public Safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to implement legislation to help protect Canadians from gun violence, fight gun crime in our communities, and keep Canadians safe.

Investing in Indigenous Policing and Community Safety
• A well-funded, culturally sensitive, and respectful police service is essential for community safety and well-being. Budget 2021 will invest $757.2 million over five years and $145 million ongoing to advance our commitment to co-develop a legislative framework that would recognize First Nations policing as an essential service, expand the First Nations Policing Program to additional communities, renovate and repair existing policing facilities, enhance Indigenous-led crime prevention strategies and support Indigenous communities to develop more holistic community-based safety and wellness models.

Expanding Canada Centre programming to Prevent Radicalization to Violence
• In recent years, Canada and the world have witnessed an increase in radicalization that leads to violence. To prevent violent extremism, Budget 2021 provides $8.2 million over three years, increasing support and research for frontline initiatives and programming that prevent and counter radicalization to violence, including violent misogyny.

Strengthening Cyber Security
• As our society become increasingly digital, we must ensure that the government can respond and protect Canadians and Canadian businesses against emerging cyber threats. Our government will invest $4.1 million over 5 years and $1 million ongoing to continue the cyber security and cybercrime survey program.

CSC COVID-19 Response
• The Government of Canada has a responsibility to keep all Canadians safe from COVID-19 infection, including the inmates at federal correctional institutions, while enabling safe access to rehabilitative services. Budget 2021 will provide $154.6 million to keep staff and inmates safe with the procurement of personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning protocols and support for the increased use of IT for remote work.

CBSA Traveller Modernization
• The safe and timely flow of people and goods across our borders is integral to Canada’s economic recovery. A modern border should facilitate efficient and safe travel and trade, while helping to protect Canada from public health and security threats. Through Budget 2021, our Government will invest $656.1 million over five years, and $123.8 million ongoing to help preserve the security and integrity of Canada’s borders while expediting the flow of legitimate travel and trade.

Addressing Systemic Racism and Discrimination in the RCMP
• Systemic racism exists in Canada and far too many Canadians do not have full confidence that public safety agencies are there to protect them. Racialized communities and Indigenous peoples continue to be overrepresented in the justice system. Budget 2021 will invest $75 million over five years, and $13.5 million ongoing, to support the RCMP in taking action in combatting systemic racism through: reforming recruitment and training processes; its collection, analysis, and reporting of race-based data; and improving community engagement and consultation with Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities.

Addressing Systemic Racism and Gender Inequality to Ensure Fair Parole Hearings
• Conditional release contributes to enhanced public safety; greater efforts must be made to involve community partners in supporting the reintegration process. Budget 2021 will invest $8 million over five years to support the Parole Board of Canada in delivering on its mandate to make fair and informed conditional release and record suspension decisions for offenders, with the objective of better addressing the issue of systemic racism.

Pardons Reform
• A criminal record is a barrier and obstacle faced by many Canadians which can impede their ability to fully reintegrate and contribute to their community. Facilitating greater access to pardons increases access to jobs, education, stable housing, and makes communities safer by helping to end the cycle of crime. Budget 2021 will invest $ 88.2 million over five years starting in 2021-22, and $13 million ongoing, to reduce application fees, create an online application portal, and support community organizations that help people navigate the pardon application process.
 

Security Infrastructure Program
• All Canadians should feel safe and be free of discrimination, but unfortunately some people continue to be at risk of racially motivated violence. Budget 2021 proposes to provide $2 million to enhance the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program. This program helps protect communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes, by providing not-for-profit organizations such as places of worship, schools, and community cultural centres with funding to enhance their security infrastructure.

Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)
• As climate change causes increased and catastrophic flooding, droughts, wildfires, and other natural disasters, public finances at the provincial and territorial level are steadily more strained. To ensure provinces and territories have the capacity to keep people safe from the threats climate change poses, Budget 2021 will invest $1.9 billion over five years, starting in 2021-22, to support provincial and territorial disaster response and recovery efforts.

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence Secretariat – Child Exploitation
• The online exploitation of children is disturbing and alarming. Budget 2021 proposes to provide $20.7 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to enhance its ability to pursue online child sexual exploitation investigations, identify victims and remove them from abusive situations, and bring offenders to justice—including those who offend abroad.

Maintaining Temporary Resident Processing Capacity
• Funding of $29 million, in 2021-22, is proposed for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency to maintain enhanced capacity to serve visitors applying for temporary resident visas and permits.

Extending Canada’s Middle East Strategy
• Since 2016, Canada has been a major contributor to the international response to the crisis in Iraq, Syria, and neighbouring countries. Budget 2021 provides $527 million in 2021-22, of which $6.9 million is allocated to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to extend Canada’s Middle East Strategy for another year and continue providing development, humanitarian, and military support and advance peace and stability in the region.

Keeping Canadians Safer from Floods
• Communities across Canada now face once-in-a century floods every few years due to climate change. Floods are damaging homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and are Canada’s most costly natural disaster, causing over $1 billion in direct damage annually. To make our communities safer and more resilient, Budget 2021 provides $63.8 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, of which $2.5 million is allocated to Public Safety Canada to work with provinces and territories to complete flood maps for higher-risk areas.

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