Canada Border Services Agency – Detention of Refugee Children

1st Session, 42nd Parliament
Volume 150, Issue 145

Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The Honourable George J. Furey, Speaker

Public Safety

Canada Border Services Agency—Detention of Refugee Children

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: My question is also to the government leader of the Senate. Leader, this will not come as any surprise to you. Since you’ve become the leader, I’ve asked this question: How many minors are being detained in Canada at this point? As you know and as I’ve said many times, when the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Minister Goodale, came in front of us, he said that he was going to look at this and see how he could reduce or not have minors in detention.

How many minors are detained at this moment, what are the plans to have them sent to other programs, and what are the results of the Red Cross’s study?

Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for her question. I will take note of it to answer specifically, as I don’t have the current number. I will also take the opportunity to review with the minister the response to the questions that were asked.