Public Safety Minister Fields Questions on Illegal Migration, Church Arsons During Committee Meeting

At a committee meeting to discuss his priorities in the fall sitting on Oct. 9, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree was pressed by opposition MPs on issues like illegal migrants, recent church arsons, and the federal gun buyback program.

Anandasangaree told MPs during the public safety committee meeting that his top priorities are enhancing border security and tackling cross-border crime.

“Yesterday, I introduced important legislation, Bill C-12, that will help tackle these two challenges,” he said.

The bill draws on elements of the Liberal government’s border security bill introduced in June, and builds on Canada’s Border Plan that aims to bolster border security and strengthen the immigration system.

Anandasangaree said the border plan has led to a 99 percent reduction in illegal migrants moving from Canada to the United States since June 2024, with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) increasing its removals of “inadmissible people.” He also said the border plan’s efforts have led to a decline in auto thefts.

The minister also noted Canada’s efforts in disrupting the flow of fentanyl by appointing a fentanyl czar and creating a joint operational intelligence cell, as well as in combating hate-motivated crimes.

He said he met with his counterparts of the Five Eyes security alliance in the United Kingdom in September to discuss “pressing border and national security issues,” and will welcome G7 ministers to a meeting in Ottawa next month to further discussions on transnational organized crime, cybercrime, migrant smuggling, and illegal synthetic drugs.

The federal gun buyback program is “another important piece of our government’s comprehensive approach to combating gun violence,” Anandasangaree said, noting the program has collected more than 12,000 firearms from businesses and that the individual phase of the program has been launched with a pilot in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

“This will help us get even more guns off our streets and protect Canadians,” he said.

Illegal Migrants, Church Arsons

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Frank Caputo asked Anandasangaree where the nearly 600 foreign nationals are who have criminal records and were set to be deported but have gone missing, and how many of the promised 1,000 new CBSA officers have been hired.

“I’m not here for your TikTok videos,” Anandasangaree replied. “I’m here to answer questions.”

Anandasangaree did not answer Caputo’s questions directly but said he wasn’t responsible for hiring border officials and noted it’s the CBSA’s responsibility to remove illegal migrants.

When further questioned about the 600 missing foreign nationals by Conservative MP Rhonda Kirkland, Anandasangaree said 61 of these individuals are currently in jail, warrants have been closed for 41 individuals, and law enforcement is still trying to locate the rest. He noted that roughly half of the individuals have committed minor offences, such as mischief or failing to comply with conditions, and are not a threat to the public.

Anandasangaree was also asked whether he has met with any of the congregations of the 123 churches in Canada that have been burned, vandalized, or desecrated over the last four years in Canada. He told Tory MP Dane Lloyd that he hasn’t met with those specific congregations, but has met with “many members of different church and faith groups.”

“You said you met with synagogues and mosques, which I do appreciate,” Lloyd said. “Those communities need your support, Minister, but Christian communities also need your support. Why have you not met with any of those communities?”

Lloyd also asked whether the minister was concerned about allegations regarding a government employee who works on a military base outside of Montreal who threw smoke bombs into a church service in Montreal during the summer.

“I’m concerned [about] every incidence of hate at any place, including churches, and certainly the allegation involves government employees. That makes me more concerned,” Anandasangaree said.

Gun Buyback

When questioned by opposition MPs about whether his government intends to ban SKS rifles as part of its ban on “assault-style” firearms, Anandasangaree said there are no plans to ban the SKS at the moment, but if an expert panel recommends that the gun be banned, the government will have to change its stance.

Lloyd asked whether trappers, foresters, biologists, and other wilderness workers who are required to carry a handgun for protection from animals like cougars and bears will be allowed to do so.

“They should be able to carry the right type of equipment to do their job that is in line with Canadian law,” Anandasangaree answered.

Kirkland asked Anandasangaree whether he thinks the buyback program will successfully curb gun violence.

“Do you really believe any criminal will hand over an illegally obtained gun that was used in a crime or that is being planned to use to hurt people?” he asked.

Anandasangaree told MPs the program “is working.” He told reporters on Sept. 23 that he has “absolute confidence” in the program, after expressing doubt about it in a private conversation just days before.