January 25, 2010

‪‪‪‪New Challenges as Minister of Public Safety

Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper shuffled the federal Cabinet and I was sworn in to the new role of Minister of Public Safety.  While I enjoyed my time as President of the Treasury Board, I am looking forward to new challenges in a portfolio that is very much in line with my background.

The Department of Public Safety employs over 60,000 individuals with a total annual budget of just under $9 billion.  Representing approximately four percent of the federal government’s direct program spending, the work of the department is critical to the Government’s core responsibility to protect Canada and Canadians from a variety of threats and risks. 

The Public Safety portfolio encompasses nine distinct organizations all of which directly contribute to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians.  In addition to the Department of Public Safety, the Portfolio includes the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), the National Parole Board (NPB), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). It also includes three arms-length review bodies: the RCMP External Review Committee, the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, and the Office of the Correctional Investigator. 

We have responsibility for administering specific aspects of over 100 pieces of legislation, including the CSIS Act, the Emergency Management Act, the Customs Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and  the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, to name but a few.  

The department’s presence is found in communities across Canada and in various locations around the world. Ranging from:

·        Ranging from RCMP officers staffing isolated detachments;

·        CBSA agents stationed at ports of entry to Canada;

·        Corrections officers at federal institutions in various Provinces;

·        Regional departmental staff responsible for monitoring emergency response operations;

·        Supporting local community crime prevention initiatives. 

Beyond Canada’s borders, employees of the Public Safety portfolio work to share their expertise and experience in countries such as Haiti and Afghanistan, where they are involved in capacity building, training and other forms of technical assistance. 

As you can see, this portfolio is very diverse and extremely far-reaching.  I look forward to continuing to serve in Cabinet in this exciting new role.

Please feel free to contact my office if you have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss.  You may contact my office toll free at 1-866-333-1933 or at 204-326-9889 or in Lac du Bonnet at 204-345-9762.  You may write my office at 8 - 227 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y7, by fax at 204-346-9874 or by e-mail at toewsv1@mts.net