Transition Binder: Minister of Public Safety Portfolio Pocket Book
December 2024
The Portfolio
The Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Portfolio was established in 2003 with the goal of consolidating a range of responsibilities in the safety and security realm under one Minister. Your general powers, duties and functions are set out in the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act (PSEP Act).
The Portfolio is composed of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (the Department, PS); and five agencies: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC); and three review bodies: the RCMP External Review Committee (ERC), the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC), and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI).
The Portfolio is the biggest, non-military Portfolio in the Government of Canada. The Portfolio's 2024-25 budget is over $10 billion, and it employs close to 72,000 people working in every part of the country and internationally. Each organization contributes to public safety and to the mission of building a safe and resilient Canada through its unique mandate and responsibilities. The Department's principal role is to bring strategic focus, coordination and direction to the government's overall safety and security agenda. It plays a key role in the development, coordination and implementation of policies and programs in the areas of national security, community safety, crime prevention, law enforcement and emergency management. The Department's annual budget is approximately $1.6 billion with 1,546 employees. The majority of the Department's employees work in the National Capital Region, but regional offices are also located in five regions: Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut, Atlantic, Prairies and Northwest Territories, and Pacific (British Columbia and Yukon) regions.
The Department is made up of seven Branches and the Federal Policing Advisory Team. The following lists each Branch and responsible Assistant Deputy Minister:
- Crime Prevention Branch
Talal Dakalbab, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister - National and Cyber Security Branch
Patrick Boucher, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, and
Sébastien Aubertin-Giguère, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister - Emergency Management and Programs Branch
Trevor Bhupsingh, Assistant Deputy Minister and
Joanne Garrah, Assistant Deputy Minister - Portfolio Affairs and Communications Branch
Shannon Grainger, Assistant Deputy Minister - Corporate Management Branch
Patrick Amyot, Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Security Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister - Indigenous Affairs Branch
Chris Moran, Assistant Deputy Minister - Firearms Program Branch
Greg Kenney, Assistant Deputy Minister - Federal Policing Advisory Team
John Davies, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
The Five Agencies
RCMP – Prevents and investigates crime, maintains peace and order, enforces laws, contributes to national security, ensures the safety of senior officials and foreign missions, and provides operational support services to other law enforcement agencies within Canada and abroad.
CBSA – Provides integrated border services in support of national security and public safety priorities by enforcing Canadian laws governing trade and travel, facilitating legitimate cross-border traffic, collecting duties and taxes and interdicting goods and people that pose a potential threat to Canada.
CSIS – Investigates and reports on activities that may pose a threat to the security of Canada. CSIS also provides security assessments, on request, to all federal departments and agencies.
CSC – Responsible for administering court-imposed sentences of two years or more for adult offenders and supervising offenders on various forms of conditional release in the community.
PBC – An independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Public Safety and has exclusive authority to make independent, quality conditional release, record suspension and expungement decisions, as well as clemency recommendations in a transparent and accountable manner. The Board's authority extends to federal offenders and offenders in provinces and territories that don't have their own parole boards.
The Three Review Bodies
ERC – Provides civilian oversight of labour relations within the RCMP by conducting independent reviews of certain types of grievances as well as demotions and dismissals.
CRCC – Receives complaints from the public about the conduct of RCMP members and conducts reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints. It also initiates complaints and investigations into RCMP conduct when it is in the public interest to do so, holds hearings, and reports findings and makes recommendations.
OCI – Conducts independent investigations about issues related to CSC that affect offenders either individually or as a group. The Office is also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on CSC's policies and procedures associated with the area of individual complaints to ensure that systemic areas of concern are identified and addressed.
Media Lines
Key Messages
- I am honoured that the Prime Minister has entrusted me with a mandate of such importance and significance. I am proud to represent the extraordinary women and men across the portfolio who keep Canadians safe
- Canadian communities are fundamentally safe and peaceful places to live, work and play but that doesn't mean there isn't more work to do
- In the days ahead, I look forward to working with the Public Safety portfolio (RCMP, CSIS, CBSA, CSC and PBC) to move forward on keeping people safe
- Job one is continuing the work of securing our border and meeting the incoming U.S. administration as partners in keeping our respective citizens safe
Hot Issue Messages
Border Security
- Canada and the U.S. have one of the closest and strongest relationships in the world. Our two countries will continue to work together to protect the integrity of our shared border, combatting drug trafficking and illegal migration while facilitating the lawful free flow of people, services and goods that contributes to North American prosperity
- Canada is executing a Border Action Plan to bolster security at the border and strengthen the immigration system, all while keeping Canadians safe. Backed by an investment of $1.3 billion and built around five pillars, this plan will bolster border security, strengthen our immigration system and contribute to ensuring Canada's future prosperity
- The plan includes a number of high impact investments including proposing to the U.S. the creation of a new North American Joint Strike Force to target transnational organized crime. I am meeting with officials from Public Safety, CBSA and RCMP this afternoon and am looking forward to getting down to work
- Canadians across the country are relying on us to put aside any differences and unite in a true team Canada approach with common purpose. This means businesses, provincial, municipal and Indigenous leaders across all parties. The country depends on us presenting a united front
Intelligence and Investigations
- The RCMP will be deploying a new Aerial Intelligence Task Force comprised of helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers. Counter-drone technology will support RCMP officers and provide 24/7 surveillance between ports of entry
- Canada is taking steps to facilitate more proactive action by law and border enforcement agencies to stop illegal drug production and trafficking within and beyond our borders.
- Canada recently announced that it will increase support to law enforcement agencies in detecting, intercepting and addressing fentanyl and precursor chemicals by adding artificial intelligence and imaging tools that will further help detect illegal drugs before they enter Canada
- As well, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will train and deploy new canine teams to intercept illegal drugs. The agency will also deploy new chemical detection tools at high-risk ports of entry
- Canada and the United States continue to collaborate on counternarcotic efforts to strengthen law enforcement, border control and public health responses to combat the overdose crisis and save lives
Removals
- The CBSA has a legal obligation to remove all foreign nationals and permanent residents who are inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly. The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) determines when a person is admissible or whether to issue a removal order
- All individuals who are subject to removal have access to due process and procedural fairness. The CBSA only actions a removal order once all avenues of recourse have been exhausted
Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) / Asylum Seekers
- It is illegal to enter between ports of entry and it is not safe. Asylum seekers should cross the border at designated ports of entry. The Safe Third Country Agreement now applies to the entire land border
- People who do not meet a STCA exception, or are otherwise determined ineligible, will be removed to the U.S.
Firearms
- The safety and security of everyone in Canada is the government's top priority, and it requires strong action to protect individuals from gun violence
- Prohibiting assault-style firearms from Canadian communities is one of the key ways to prevent gun violence and crime
- We have introduced practical and targeted measures that will help reduce illegal firearms activities, intimate partner and gender-based violence, and self-harm, support municipalities in tackling handgun violence, and make our communities safer for everyone
C-21 (Firearms)
- Our Government introduced Bill C-21 in May 2022 as part of a comprehensive approach to address firearm violence and control. This bill represents the most significant changes to gun control legislation in more than 40 years
- On December 5, 2024, our Government also announced that 324 unique makes and models that share the characteristics of an assault-style firearm have been added to the list of prohibited firearms in Canada. The prohibition takes effect immediately
- The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program is now available for licensed firearms businesses across the country
- The program is not yet available for individuals. Individuals in possession of prohibited firearms and devices must continue to securely store them according to their classification prior to May 1, 2020
National Security
- The preservation of national security is a multi-faceted endeavor that requires cooperation across a diverse range of initiatives and programs. Public Safety Canada functions as a centralized hub for coordinating work in counter-terrorism, critical infrastructure, cyber security and transportation security
Foreign Interference
- Canada is taking a whole-of-government approach to address foreign interference, led by Public Safety Canada
- Royal Assent of C-70, an Act respecting countering foreign interference, protects people in Canada and further strengthens Canada's counter-foreign interference toolkit
- Countering this threat, while upholding Canadian interests, values and principles are top priorities for the government. The government recognizes the importance of transparency in its approach to counter foreign interference
Key Contacts
Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada
Office: 613-949-0322 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Tricia.Geddes@ps-sp.gc.ca
Daniel Mills, Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada
Office: 613-222-7586
Email: Daniel.Mills@ps-sp.gc.ca
Jeffery Hutchinson, Associate Deputy Minister (Emergency Management), Public Safety Canada
Office: 613-612-9531
Email: Jeffery.Hutchinson@ps-sp.gc.ca
Erin O'Gorman, President, Canada Border Services Agency
Office: 613-957-0612 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Erin.O’Gorman@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Daniel Rogers, Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Office: [REDACTED]
Email: [REDACTED]
Anne Kelly, Commissioner, Correctional Service of Canada
Office: 613-995-5781 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Anne.Kelly@csc-scc.gc.ca
Joanne Blanchard, Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada
Office: 613-954-1154 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Joanne.Blanchard@pbc-clcc.gc.ca
Mike Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Office: 613-823-4627 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Mike.Duheme@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Public Safety Policy Contact
Shannon Grainger, Assistant Deputy Minister, Portfolio Affairs and Communications Branch
Office: 613-949-6435 / Cell: [REDACTED]
Email: Shannon.Grainger@ps-sp.gc.ca
Public Safety concierge contacts
Patrick Amyot, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Security Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister
Office: 613-990-2615
Email: Patrick.Amyot@ps-sp.gc.ca
Jill McIntosh, A/Director General, Corporate Services
Office: 613-614-7704
Email: Jill.McIntosh@ps-sp.gc.ca
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