Question Period Note: Leases and contracts related to regular and irregular Border Crossings

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), as a common service provider to departments and agencies for procurement and real property services, supports the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at border crossings. This is done by putting in place various agreements to help accommodate asylum seekers arriving between ports of entry without alternative plans, while they await transfer to the provincial shelter system or secure private accommodations. In many cases, urgent contracts have been required to deal with increasing and often unpredictable volumes of asylum claimants, including contracts for short-term accommodation and support services, such as transportation, food and security.

Note: Questions related to the Safe Third Country Agreement should be directed to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

• My department is working closely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, to address the impacts associated with the asylum agreement that was reached on March 24, 2023, between the U.S. and Canada including the closure of Roxham Road
  • We are also ensuring we have plans in place for ongoing and future needs
  • We will continue to be guided by principles of transparency and accountability in all the action we take

If pressed on Roxham Road:

• Although Roxham Road was closed in March of this year, Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to provide ongoing support regarding asylum claimants to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency
• Contracts in relation to asylum claimants have been structured on an “as and when required” basis, and payments are made based on the actual usage of services
• Public Services and Procurement Canada has not amended or terminated any leases related to that location on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Canada Border Services Agency
• Five leases are still active, including two for temporary installations that will expire on September 30, 2023; the Hotel St-Bernard lease, which will expire on March 31, 2024; and two buildings used by Canada Border Services Agency, which will expire on June 30, 2027

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