Ministerial Welcome Letter
May 13, 2025
The Honourable Ruby Sahota, C.P., M.P.
Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)
269 Laurier Street West
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8
Dear Minister,
Congratulations on your appointment as Secretary of State (Combatting Crime). I eagerly await the opportunity to collaborate with you, and to assist you in achieving the Government's goals for the Public Safety Portfolio. I am certain that you will receive excellent support from an expert, diverse, and seasoned team within the Department and throughout the Portfolio.
As you know, the Public Safety Portfolio plays a central role in protecting Canadian sovereignty, upholding national security and keeping Canadians protected and safe. This extends across a range of areas including economic security, border security, law enforcement and policing, corrections and crime prevention. In many instances, the work to advance your mandate falls exclusively under federal jurisdiction, and requires engagement and partnerships with all orders of government, Indigenous Peoples, public and private institutions, and a wide variety of civil society actors. As we work to address a large volume of highly visible and complex policy, program and operational priorities, it remains critically important for you to establish effective and reciprocal relationships within the Portfolio, as well as with our partners, and Canadians writ large.
As the country grapples with the impacts of significantly shifting relationships from international partners, we are facing a new and unprecedented level of uncertainty that is putting the safety and security of Canadian sovereignty, the economy and citizens at risk. More than ever, addressing these threats to our national security and sovereignty will require urgent and impactful measures.
The Portfolio is ready to continue to implement border-strengthening measures that are in Canada's interest, including to provide for greater detection and disruption of the fentanyl trade, new tools for law enforcement and enhanced operational coordination and information sharing. This is in addition to ongoing important work on policing, gun violence and crime. To this end, the Portfolio will continue to demonstrate strong leadership and show Canadians that we are well-placed and prepared to protect Canada's security, resilience, and sovereignty.
You will find enclosed with this letter a booklet, which lists key contacts across the Portfolio, as well as general holding lines. In addition, annexed to this letter are additional hot issues messages on topics related to crime. You and your office will also receive transition material, providing an overview of Public Safety Canada and the Portfolio. This material outlines the drivers affecting your core areas of the department's responsibility, namely national security and crime prevention. It is important to note that this letter, the booklet and material will be proactively disclosed on the Department's website in 120 days.
While no action is required immediately with respect to the transition material, it will provide you and your team with a comprehensive overview of initiatives underway within the Department. I trust that this resource will prove useful as you settle into this role in the days and weeks ahead.
Serving as a bridge between the Department and yourself, I look forward to discussing your priorities and how you want to commence briefings. The Department, Portfolio and myself are ready to focus on and take immediate action to delivery on your key priorities with the goal of urgency that Canadians expect at this critical time. Along with my colleagues in the Department, I will also play a central role for you with regard to the rest of the Portfolio and will continue to ensure you have coherent advice from across the Portfolio, and connecting to the government more broadly.
Once again Minister, welcome to Public Safety Canada. I wish you every success during your time here. I look forward to bringing you the Department's very best advice and support.
Should you have questions or need to get hold of me, my cell is [REDACTED] and my office line is (613) 991-2895.
Tricia Geddes
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