Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, thankfully, summer is here, and with its arrival comes the much anticipated opening of our local farmers' markets and the start of festival season in communities across Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte. We are very fortunate to have two major local farmers' markets operating this year. The Barrie Farmers' Market is back outdoors and open every Saturday on Collier Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Springwater, the Elmvale Farmers' Market kicks off its season on June 11 and will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Elmvale municipal parking lot. We are also fortunate to have several fantastic festivals in our region in the coming weeks, including the Troubadour Festival, Kempenfest, Boots and Hearts and many Canada Day celebrations, including those in Elmvale, Hawkstone and Barrie. Finally, this weekend, the Barrie Airshow will feature the Snowbirds, providing one of the last chances for residents to see them perform for years. I encourage all residents to get out and attend one or all of these great markets and festivals, and I wish them all a happy summer.

moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑281, An Act to amend the Textile Labelling Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand and introduce my private member's bill today, entitled “the made in Canada flag act”. I would like to thank my friend and colleague for Saskatoon South for seconding this bill. This act would require Canadian flags sold in Canada to clearly display their country of origin. Currently, there is no requirement for Canadian flags manufactured abroad to be labelled with their country of origin. This is about honesty and fairness. Canadians deserve to know where their flags come from. If it is made in Canada, that is something to be proud of. If it is not, Canadians still have the right to make an informed choice. If Canadians want to buy Canadian-made flags, the choice should be obvious. The proposed legislation would require Canadian flags that meet minimum size requirements to display a country-of-origin label directly on the product as well as on its packaging. This act would close a loophole that allows foreign-made flags to be sold without clear origin labelling and support Canadian manufacturers facing unfair competition from mislabelled or unlabelled imports, promote transparency, inform consumer choice and protect the integrity of the Canadian flag, a national symbol central to our identity. This legislation would not ban imports or impose tariffs. It would simply ensure transparency. It is a practical measure that supports Canadian jobs and helps Canadians shop and display their national pride with confidence. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G7 country currently in a recession. This made-in-Canada recession has caused food bank usage to surge. In my community, the Barrie Food Bank is now supporting 8,000 clients per month, up from just 1,000 at the beginning of 2020. According to the executive director of the Barrie Food Bank, the organization recorded more than 8,000 visits in March alone. This represents a 12% year-over-year increase, including 377 first-time visits, which is up 30% from 2025. If Canada's recession were truly driven by global energy and tariff pressures, why is no other G7—

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition today on behalf of members of the Barrie Persian Association in my riding, as well as members of the Persian community across Simcoe county, who are deeply concerned about the ongoing systemic human rights violations being committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to intensify diplomatic pressure on the Iranian regime, support international accountability efforts, amplify voices calling for a free and democratic Iran and take concrete measures to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable. I am honoured to table this petition on their behalf, and I thank the members of the Persian community, in my riding and across Canada, for their courage and continued advocacy on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his service. I would like to mention that, in my riding of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, Base Borden is very close to me, and I have been getting the same calls that he is getting. Knowing that my colleague has served and been there, why does he feel that the Liberals have been so negligible in their attitude toward veterans, and what can we do as the opposition to try to help them out through this cause when they need it the most?

Mr. Speaker, Canada made international headlines this week with economists stating that our economy is on life support and the country is already on recession watch. Our per capita GDP is falling, residential construction is flat, businesses are postponing expansion, and the Liberal government's anti-development laws and taxes remain in place. Will the Prime Minister work with Conservatives and introduce a plan to remove the barriers that are preventing Canadians from building, investing and working?

Mr. Speaker, Christmas is right around the corner, and in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, the festivities are already in full swing, with Santa Claus parades, Christmas markets and, most importantly, the spirit of giving. Year-round in my community, charities do outstanding work to help the residents of our community, especially during the holiday season. Our local charities, such as the Barrie Food Bank, the Elmvale and District Food Bank, Christmas Cheer, Senior Wish Association, the Salvation Army and Barrie Families Unite, work tirelessly to help support families in putting food on the table and gifts under the tree. As we enter this giving season, I encourage all those who are able to do so to donate to a local food bank or shelter. To those who need help during these challenging times, please know that these organizations in their community will be there to help support them. I thank the employees, volunteers and donors who help support the vital work of these charities. From my family to the families of all members, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, happy holidays and happy new year. To the students who are here from Barrie today, joyeux Noël.

Mr. Speaker, just before we get going, I would like to put everybody in the festive spirit. This may be the last time we speak before we leave next week, and I want to say merry Christmas, happy holidays and the best of the new year. I would like to remind people that there is a lot of great charity work going on in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte. Some of the charities are doing great work to help out the needy, and I remind people to keep supporting them and the people who are volunteering to do that. I thank them for the hard work they do. I will be working the kettle a few times over the holidays, and I look forward to it. It is always fun, but it is also rewarding because it is nice to say hello to people and to get those donations, which are much needed. The Salvation Army does fantastic work. I would like to remind all my colleagues here, in case anybody is in the Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte area, as well as local residents, that we have some great parades coming up that I will be partaking in. We have one on Sunday, December 7, at Elmvale, which is always a great turnout. We have one on Saturday, December 13 in Warminster and on Sunday, December 14, in Anten Mills. I will be partaking in all those, and I am looking forward to that. It is always nice to see people there and wish them a merry Christmas, so I encourage others to come out to enjoy the parade. I see my colleague down the row here smiling. He looks like he may be just driving over from the Goderich area to join us over there, so I look forward to that. That will be nice. Let us get to business now. I am pleased to rise to speak today on behalf of the great people of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte about the Liberal government's latest budget, a budget that would fail Canadians on every front from affordability to jobs, housing and immigration. I would like to focus on the unfortunate state of this country's finances after 10 years of deficit budgets and how the Liberal government's inflationary policies are affecting families in my community. Let us start with some facts. Under the Prime Minister, the budget would add $321.7 billion to the federal debt over the next five years. That is more than twice what Justin Trudeau would have added in the same period, and we all know that he was not afraid to spend. That eyewatering number equals roughly $10 million every hour added to our national debt. Every single hour that passes, the Prime Minister is saddling residents in my community and across Canada with another $10 million of debt. Today, the national debt stands at $1.3 trillion, and it will cost $55.6 billion just to service this debt. That is more money than the government spends on Canada health transfer payments and more than the government collects in GST revenue. It works out to be more than $3,000 per Canadian household just to pay the interest on that debt. Meanwhile, Canada's GDP growth is stuck at 1.1%, the second-lowest in the G7, and the unemployment rates will average 6.4% over the next five years. It is not just Conservatives speaking out about this Liberal disastrous deficit spending. Fitch Ratings said that this budget's massive spending increase and debt burden weakens our credit profile and underscores the erosion of the federal government's finances. Dan Kelly, the president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, called the budget, “a missed opportunity to provide meaningful...relief to Canada’s employers.” In the spirit of collaboration, the Conservatives tabled an amendment to the budget to boost take-home pay and deliver affordable homes and food. This would have been accomplished by scrapping hidden taxes on food; cutting taxes on work, homebuilding, investment and energy; and stopping the inflation tax by keeping the deficit under $42 billion. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister and his finance minister ignored our pleas for a lower deficit and lower taxes and decided to add more than $90 billion in new spending, which would keep inflation interest rates higher than Canadians can afford. That means higher taxes, higher inflation and higher food costs. The numbers do not lie. This is not fiscal responsibility. This is a budget of recklessness. Now, I will turn to how residents in my community and Canadians from coast to coast are paying the price for the government's irresponsible deficit spending. Statistics Canada's latest data show that Canadians are paying more for food, gas and rent under the Liberal government as inflation, particularly on food, continues to outpace the government's targets. Food inflation in Canada is nearly double the Bank of Canada's target, and food prices have been rising 48% faster in Canada than they have in the United States. The cost of strawberries rose by 25%. Beef stewing cuts rose by 20%. Ground coffee rose by 20%, and chicken drumsticks rose by 17% between March and September. Food Banks Canada gave the Liberal government an F on poverty and food insecurity after both rose nearly 40% in two years. A decade ago, individuals with full-time jobs were not relying on food banks to feed themselves and their families. Now, the high cost of groceries is exasperating food insecurity, and many Canadians are turning to food banks to make ends meet. Just recently, Food Banks Canada released a report stating, “Employment is no longer a reliable buffer against poverty”, and Canada is becoming “a country where hunger is normalized”. In October, in my community, the Barrie Food Bank served 8,100 people, including a record number of children and seniors. That is a 16% increase from this time last year, and it is outpacing donations. Karen Shuh, the executive director of the Barrie Food Bank, stated: We’re sourcing as much food as possible at the lowest cost and recovering food that would otherwise go to waste just to keep pace, but the gap between what we can provide and what our community needs keeps widening. If someone gave $1 last year, we now need $1.16 just to keep food distribution at the same level. Residents with full-time jobs, seniors and young people should not have to rely on food banks to make ends meet. In response to these startling numbers, Conservatives put forward a motion calling on the Liberal government to stop taxing food by eliminating the industrial carbon tax on fertilizer and farm equipment, the inflation tax, the food packaging tax and the clean fuel standard, which adds 17¢ per litre of gas. Unfortunately, the Liberal government voted down this motion to remove grocery taxes, which continue to drive up the price at the till. Housing is no better. The Prime Minister promised that the Liberal government would build 500,000 homes. However, a report from the housing industry indicated that the Liberal government's housing plan has gone from a promise of 500,000 to a plan that will cost 100,000 jobs. This report highlighted the latest preconstruction home sales data, which shows that, across Canada, sales have collapsed. In the greater Toronto area, sales of preconstruction single-family apartments have collapsed by 82%. The Liberals also abandoned their promise to cut development charges, which can make up 25% of a home's cost. These fees have soared 700% in two decades, pricing countless Canadians out of the market. The Canadian Real Estate Association stated that this budget offers limited concrete measures to support Canadians aspiring to achieve affordable home ownership and risks slamming the door on home ownership for many. Conservatives have a real plan to restore the promise of home ownership for a generation that has sacrificed enough. We want to end the federal sales tax on new homes under $1.3 million, tie federal infrastructure dollars to homebuilding, cut building taxes by half and axe the capital gains tax on reinvestment to get the housing we need built. The Liberal government's budget also fails on the immigration file. Instead of fixing the housing crisis or controlling costs, the Liberals are making their immigration levels permanent, keeping over two million temporary residents in Canada by 2027, a 300% increase since 2015. The Liberals have no plan for the 500,000 undocumented persons or three million temporary workers whose visas are expiring. This failure erodes wages, increases unemployment and reduces access to housing, health care and child care for everyone. Canadians deserve an immigration system that is fair, just and sustainable, not one that hides costs and ignores security risks. Our immigration system must put Canada first, which means inviting the right people in the right numbers, which we can absorb into housing, health care and jobs. It means having a system that allows newcomers to succeed as part of the Canadian family. It also means restoring the value of citizenship so that everyone who calls this country home, regardless of where they came from, is Canadian above all else. Conservatives will continue to fight to make Canada a place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything by working hard, following the rules and contributing. Finally, the cost of living crisis and the Liberal government's deficit spending is tragically affecting our young people. The most recent Statistics Canada's September labour force survey found that youth unemployment is increasing to 14.7%, which is the highest rate since September 2010. Students trying to balance school and work are in an even more desperate position, with 17.1% unable to find a job. This follows a brutal summer for our young people as the unemployment rate for returning full-time students averaged 17.9%, the highest rate since the great recession, excluding the first year of the pandemic. I see that I am out of time. Perhaps during questions, I will be able to add the little I have left of my speech.

Mr. Speaker, I am looking around the room right now and I see a lot of Conservatives on this side here and ready to work. The member opposite talks about work. We are here; we are ready, and we are working. Our constituents put us here to discuss things, not just to pass bills blatantly. I keep hearing that the Conservatives are filibustering. I am not filibustering; I am here doing my job. We get paid good money. We get sent here to do a job. My constituents expect me and, I am sure, all my other colleagues to do the job, and that is what we are doing.

Mr. Speaker, I did not know the member was going to mention it, but it is great to hear. It is unfortunate what has happened in Barrie and many cities, most cities, all cities across Canada, quite frankly. I had this discussion recently with my two young sons, who are in their twenties. I told them that what they are seeing today is not the Canada I grew up in or the Canada I remember. They do not know what it was like then. They think seeing tents on the side of the road, tent encampments in every forest and every park is a normal thing. It is not normal. I took a tour across Canada, and it has infected many cities across our country. The nice thing is that in Barrie, our strong-willed mayor, His Worship Alex Nuttall, did declare a state of emergency and is actually doing something. He is cleaning up the city. First, he is trying to get people the help they need. There is an addictions problem and a homelessness problem, but there is also a lawlessness problem. A lot of people are afraid to mention that right now, but that is what is going on. He is trying to address that issue, and I know he is cleaning up Barrie right now. From residents, I am hearing the exact opposite of what I was hearing a few months ago. They are pleased with the direction; they are pleased that he is taking the initiative, and they are pleased that he is trying to clean it up. I support him wholeheartedly. Barrie is starting to look better and get back to what it once was.

Mr. Speaker, just quickly, I have been here this morning for a couple of hours, and I have heard the members opposite from the Liberal government talking about bail reform. Maybe the member on our side, the Conservative side, could answer this since she has been here for over 10 years. Who has been in power for the last two years? What do the words “bail reform” mean, and why are we sitting here talking about bail reform after someone has been in charge for 10 years?

Mr. Speaker, the question is for my great colleague from the beautiful town of Moose Jaw, which I had the pleasure of visiting this past summer, and I met with some of the police, the law enforcement officers there. The member was unavailable to meet me as he was out of town when I got there. There has been a huge rise in crime in Barrie, my city. In fact, one police officer in our town was stabbed by a gentleman who had been arrested and released on bail 17 times in two years. Are you hearing the same things in your area?

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I should take a minute or two to thank the great people of Barrie who attended the Barrie Santa Claus parade this past weekend, even in the rain. It was great to see everybody out there. It was nice, a good parade. I thank the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce for putting it on. Let us get into the fun stuff. I am pleased to rise today to speak on behalf of the great people of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte about Bill C-14. Bill C-14 seeks to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act to clarify that the principle of restraint introduced by the Liberal government does not require release. It also proposes to expand reverse onus offences and would direct courts to weigh the number and gravity of outstanding charges when determining bail. Finally, it would add new aggravating factors, mandate certain consecutive sentences, restrict house arrest for sexual offenders and strengthen youth custody and disclosure powers. Conservatives have been pushing for meaningful changes to fix our broken bail system for years, and I am pleased to see that steps are being taken to ensure safety in our communities after decades of decline under the Liberal government. In fact, this piece of legislation is a rare admission from the Liberal government that its approach to the criminal justice system has failed. By tabling this legislation, it is acknowledging the 41% increase in the violent crime severity index in the past decade and the increases in homicide, sexual assault and extortion offences, which happened under its watch. Residents in my community and across Canada are living in fear. Communities that were once peaceful and welcoming are now plagued by crime. The downtown core of almost every major city in Canada is overwhelmed by drug use, break-ins and public disorder. The numbers do not lie. Since 2015, violent crime is up 55%, firearms crime has surged by 130%, extortion has skyrocketed by 330%, sexual assaults are up 76% and homicides have risen by 29%. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute recently released the “Urban Violent Crime Report”, which studied the crime rates in 20 of Canada's largest census metropolitan areas. The results are shocking. Over the past decade, the violent crime rate and sexual assault rate increased in all 20 census metropolitan areas. Notably, the violent crime severity index is up by 71% in Kitchener, 63% in Quebec City and 61% in St. Catharines. These are not just numbers. These troubling statistics represent shattered lives, broken families and communities living in fear. How did we get here? The Liberal government introduced soft-on-crime legislation like Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, which gave high priority to releasing repeat violent offenders and took away mandatory jail time for certain violent crimes, unleashing a crime wave across the country. Specifically, Bill C-75 enshrined the principles of restraint in law, which direct the courts to release offenders at the earliest reasonable opportunity and under the least onerous conditions. Bill C-5 abolished most mandatory minimum sentences and made house arrest a possibility for serious, heinous crimes like sexual assault and drug trafficking. In 2023, the Liberal government tabled Bill C-48, which expanded reverse onus provisions but did not make it more difficult to get bail and did nothing to make it harder for repeat violent offenders to get bail. I have talked to police services across the country and have been on ride-alongs in several cities from coast to coast, and I hear the same thing time and time again, which is that a very small number of people are responsible for the majority of crimes. These are offenders who are arrested and released the same day and go on to commit crimes while on release. These individuals are placing a strain on our courts, our communities and our first responders. We witnessed a string of violent incidents over the summer, including the tragic murder of Bailey McCourt by her ex-husband just hours after he was released on bail following an assault conviction. In my own community, OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala, a Barrie resident, was ambushed and murdered by a violent repeat offender who was out on bail and under a lifetime firearms ban. Just last year, Constable Jim Peters, a Barrie police officer, was stabbed while on duty by a repeat violent offender who was on probation at the time of the stabbing. Thankfully, Jim has recovered. In the two years leading up to this incident, the individual responsible had been arrested and released 17 times and had over 100 interactions with the Barrie Police Service. Recently, Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, appeared before the justice committee. I asked him how incidents like these are affecting the mental health of officers on the front lines. He told the committee that officers are being assaulted every day by repeat offenders. He shared a horrifying story from April, when an offender attempted to set a police officer on fire by pouring a flammable liquid on him during an arrest attempt. Thomas Carrique, who is the OPP commissioner and president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, told the justice committee something similar. He stated: When these perpetrators are brought before the courts, and when they are released and the officers can clearly see an elevated risk—they're released into communities, and they further victimize innocent, law-abiding Canadians, including police officers in the lawful execution of their duties—it is very demoralizing for our officers. Police services are facing serious recruitment and retention challenges because of the extraordinary risks officers face when trying to apprehend these individuals. This is not just a public safety crisis, but it is a mental health crisis for those on the front lines. Officers are exhausted and demoralized; they are leaving the profession in record numbers. Who suffers? It is every Canadian who depends on them for safety. These tragedies are not isolated and did not happen in a vacuum. They are a result of dangerous offenders' being released on bail, time and time again, because of the Liberal government's catch-and-release bail laws. While the Liberal government was denying that there were any issues with our bail system, Conservatives were fighting for solutions. In just this session, Conservatives have introduced several pieces of legislation to address skyrocketing crime rates, including Bill C-242, the jail not bail act, to extend reverse onus for major crimes and protect first responders, and Bill C-246, which proposes to make a consecutive sentence mandatory for such crimes as sexual assault. The Liberal government has ignored or voted against both pieces of legislation. While we welcome any constructive efforts to try to fix our broken bail system and bring safety back to our communities, Conservatives believe that the legislation does not go far enough. The most significant example of the legislation missing the mark is on the principle of restraint. Bill C-14 now confirms that restraint does not require release. However, it still provides a pathway to release and retains the directive to apply the least onerous conditions on an offender. Conservatives believe that the principle of restraint clause should be replaced entirely by a clause that prioritizes public and community safety as the governing principle. We also believe that the bill does not reform sentencing in a truly meaningful way. Conservatives believe that we must restore mandatory minimum sentences for serious violent offences, including firearms, kidnapping, human trafficking, robbery, extortion with a firearm, arson and others. The repeal of these sentences under Bill C-5 was wrong and has led to crime and chaos in our communities. Another point that we hope to see improvements on is what offences would be eligible for house arrest. We are very concerned that individuals charged with robbery, drug trafficking and firearms offences would still be eligible for house arrest under the legislation. That being said, it is promising to see changes proposed to the youth criminal justice system. Last session, while studying the auto theft crisis in Canada, we learned about the startling prevalence of young people involved in violent crimes. Commissioner Thomas Carrique of the OPP noted that a significant number of youth are participating in organized auto theft rings, many of them armed. Deputy Chief Robert Johnson of the Toronto Police Service told the committee that one-third of individuals arrested for carjacking in Toronto were young offenders. Beyond auto theft, Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association, recently informed the justice committee that in Toronto alone, more than a dozen youth were charged with murder in the past year and 102 illegal firearms were seized from youth in the city. This underscores the urgent need to update our justice and bail laws to reflect the changing landscape of offender profiles in Canada. Conservatives will work collaboratively to ensure that the legislation is strengthened and genuinely achieves the goal of keeping our communities safe. We hope that all parties will come together during the committee process to pass reasonable amendments. Unless these changes are made, serious and dangerous offenders will continue to walk free, communities will remain at risk and families will continue to live in fear. Canadians deserve better. They deserve a government that puts their safety first. They deserve a justice system that protects victims, not criminals. That is why we are calling on the Liberal government to work with us to end the scourge of crime, chaos and disorder in our streets. It is time to restore safety, accountability and justice for all Canadians. Conservatives will always stand on the side of victims, families and safe communities.

Mr. Speaker, I have to be honest. I thank the member for not yelling at me as you were all morning at everybody else. I appreciate that. I will mention, when say you want action, that the type of action I am hearing from the Liberal Party across is action such as that of your member for Victoria, who is on record calling for defunding the police, for disarming most police and for promoting drug decriminalization. That is on record. The Conservative Party does not stand for any of those motions. The type of action that we would be going for is putting criminals away under a tighter bail system.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for dropping by Barrie in the summer. I welcome all of my colleagues from all sides to get off Highway 400 and come into Barrie. It is a great city. We are always welcoming everybody there, and we will give them a little tour around. We are doing a great job right now. Our mayor is currently cleaning up under a state of emergency, cleaning up what has been left behind and trying to clean up encampments. It is looking quite good. Come by and look at the fine work that Barrie, the Barrie Police and the mayor are doing there. I thank the member for those words about my city. Yes, I am glad that the hon. member mentioned the tragic incident of the Barrie police officer who was stabbed while on duty at a local fast-food restaurant. He was just trying to enjoy himself but got caught in a situation there. As I had mentioned, the perpetrator had been arrested, just within the past two years prior to this, 17 different times and released on bail. They had over 100 interactions. Today, we are talking about reforming the bail act. It is amazing. We are reforming something that has been done over and over under the Liberals, but we are not getting it straight. We need to get this right. We need to make sure that the public is safe. We need to make sure that police officers are safe. We need to make sure that criminals, especially ones who have had 17 different arrests and convictions in two years, stay behind bars.

Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize. There was a lack of my getting my translator up to my ear in time, so I will just go over some of the things that we are trying to resolve here today. I hope this helps him with some answers. I would like to highlight that, through 2015 to 2023, total violent crime was up by 49.84%. Total homicides were up 27.75%. Sexual assaults were up 74.83%. Total violent firearms offences were up 116.41%. Extortion was up 357%. Auto theft was up 45.7%. Total sexual violations against children were up 118%. These are just absolutely atrocious numbers. These are all numbers that have happened under the Liberals' watch from 2015 to 2023. We need to take a closer look at bail reform and make sure that criminals stay behind bars.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for her words this morning. I would like some clarification. Last year in Barrie, a police officer was stabbed while on duty. The person who stabbed him had been arrested and released over 17 times in the two years prior to that altercation. I wonder if the member opposite could speak to this motion and if she will support it. Then I could go back to this officer and tell him that we in the House of Commons are actually doing something to try and help him and his team and support the residents of Barrie.

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the words of my colleague. In Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, we have a terrible crime issue. The mayor has actually ordered a state of emergency to be put in place to help deal with some of the lawlessness going on. I was surprised to hear from the Liberal member opposite that the crime rates are going down. I have in my hand numbers from Stats Canada, saying that total violent crime is up 49.84%, homicides are up 27.75%, sexual assaults are up 74%, total firearms offences are up 116%, extortion is up 357% and auto theft is up 45%. I could keep going, but they are all up. The residents in my riding are definitely concerned that they are going up. Maybe the member on this side could make clear what is going on in Canada and why it is important today to try to pass the bill to put people in jail and stop bail.

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the words that were presented this morning. We know this is an issue right across Canada, but specifically, I would like to mention a couple of statistics coming out of Barrie. Right now, there are over 500 households using the Barrie Food Bank each day, and 38% of those clients are now children. Those are heartbreaking statistics. Will the member opposite support our common-sense Conservative motion today to help lower pricing on groceries?

Mr. Speaker, recently in Barrie, there was a Barrie police officer, Constable Jim Peters, who was stabbed while on duty. He was stabbed by an accused individual who had been arrested and released 17 times two years prior to that incident and had had over 100 interactions with Barrie Police Service. This type of rampant crime and chaos must end. What would this motion today do to help officers like this?

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the great people of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, I am pleased to rise today to speak to this important piece of legislation. Since this is my first full speech in the 45th Parliament, I would be a little remiss if I did not take a moment to thank a few people who helped send me back here. First of all, I would like to mention my EDA president and sign guru, Shawn Scott. A few of my key campaign team members were Erin, also referred to as “Peaches”, the other Errin, Lauren, Harry, Sharbell, Hale and, of course, Kelly, who held the fort. Many other volunteers and supporters also helped with this. It takes an army, as everybody on all sides knows, to get a successful campaign done. I would also like to thank my family: my wife, Lisa, for always supporting me; my son, Wyatt, and his girlfriend, Grayson; my other son, Luke; and, just to get some brownie points from my wife, I would also like to mention my dog, Ollie, for always posing for pictures on all the brochures and winning everyone's hearts. I am sure my wife will be very happy to hear that part; I think the dog is a little higher on the pecking order at home than I am. Conservatives have been calling on the Liberal government to introduce many of these measures for years. Under the Liberal government, Canada has turned a blind eye to enforcement on illegal migration, gun trafficking, money laundering and the cross-border trafficking of fentanyl. Unfortunately, the Liberals felt inclined to make real progress on these issues only when they were called out and threatened with tariffs by the United States. They scrambled, and we must ask ourselves why it took so long to act. Conservatives believe in protecting Canadians from transnational crime, illegal trafficking and abuse of our immigration system, but Bill C-2 contains many troubling provisions related to privacy and civil liberties of Canadians that will be difficult to support without significant amendments. Bill C-2 is a sweeping omnibus bill into which the Liberal government decided to throw a laundry list of measures that are completely unrelated to border security and immigration reform. I will discuss three main issues touched upon in Bill C-2 that the Liberal government has allowed to spiral out of control: fentanyl, our immigration system and border security. Let us begin with the fentanyl crisis. Canada faces an opioid crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Canadians since 2016. This is a national crisis that has wreaked havoc on our communities in our cities, in our towns and in rural Canada from coast to coast. Many members must wonder how the Liberal government has responded to this crisis. The Liberal government introduced Bill C-5. This disastrous bill eliminated mandatory prison time for drug traffickers, drug producers and drug importers. Many of the people responsible for killing over 50,000 people and causing unbelievable mayhem and destruction in our communities no longer have mandatory prison times. It has been repeated over and over again, even by Liberals themselves, that Bill C-5's specific goal was for fewer people to go to prison. As a result of legislation like this, we see that people involved in this deadly fentanyl trade are getting back out on the streets more quickly than ever. It is extremely disappointing to see that there are no new sentencing provisions included in this massive omnibus bill. Individuals who threaten our communities will continue to walk free because of Bill C-5, even if the current bill is passed. I will remind the members of the House that, in December, Conservatives put forward an opposition day motion calling for many measures related to fentanyl trafficking. Our motion called on the Liberal government to reverse Bill C-5, reinstate longer sentences for drug kingpins, ban the importation of fentanyl precursors, buy high-powered scanners, put more boots on the ground at the ports and stop buying unsafe supply of opioids. Shockingly, the Liberal government, the Bloc and the NDP all voted against this motion. Now I will turn to our immigration system and border security, issues that the Liberal government has quickly allowed to spiral out of control during its past decade in power. The Prime Minister promised to fix our broken immigration system and broken borders, but recently released numbers show that he has blown past his immigration targets, with some on track to be the highest on record. He supports the same out-of-control Liberal immigration policies that delivered a triple-header crisis in housing, health care and youth unemployment. Conservatives believe we must reduce the numbers so that health care, housing and job creation can catch up. The Canadian public deserves a trustworthy immigration system that operates in the national interest. We used to have the best immigration system in the world, and we were the envy of all other nations. Our immigration system must put Canada first. That means inviting the right people in the right numbers to absorb them into housing, health care and jobs. It means having a system that allows newcomers to succeed as part of the Canadian family. It also means restoring the value of citizenship so that everyone who calls our country home, regardless of where they came from, is Canadian above all else. We must also end the abuse of the temporary foreign worker program and the international student program and end fraudulent refugee claims. With respect to border security, Conservatives will support any measure that invests in our border and provides greater resources to CBSA personnel to prevent the flow of illegal guns, drugs and other listed goods over our border and into Canada. Conservatives are committed to strengthening Canada's border security through practical effective measures. We support deploying thousands of additional border agents, expanding the operational reach of the Canada Border Services Agency across the entire border and installing advanced surveillance towers to monitor high-risk areas. We also advocate for the use of high-powered scanners at land crossings and shipping ports to detect illicit drugs, firearms and stolen vehicles. These tools are essential in disrupting organized crime and protecting Canadian communities. Above all, we stand firmly behind the dedicated men and women serving on the front lines of our border. These professionals are often under-resourced, but they work tirelessly to safeguard our country. Their efforts in intercepting dangerous substances and weapons are critical to national security, and they deserve our full support and sincere gratitude. Now I would like to touch briefly upon how the Liberal government's soft-on-crime agenda is having an impact on my own community. After 10 years under the Liberal government, I walk around the downtown core of my riding and do not recognize it. Ten years ago, my community did not have tent encampments, and it did not have widespread homelessness; it did not have individuals smoking and shooting up illegal drugs on sidewalks and in children's playgrounds. Lawlessness has become the norm in my community and in cities across Canada. The sad part is that our young people think this is normal. They think this is the way Canada has always been. To young people across Canada, I say that it was not like this before the Liberal government came into power; it will not be like this once it is gone. In the city of Barrie, Mayor Alex Nuttall was recently forced to declare a state of emergency to address the growing number and size of encampments, which pose significant risks to the community, our first responders and the individuals living in these encampments. Our first responders and community organizations are stretched thin by the scale of disorder caused by the encampments. Children are exposed to open drug use and must navigate dangerous areas on their way to school. Small businesses and local retailers face ongoing challenges related to vandalism, theft, loitering and public intoxication. It is clear that this is a symptom of the Liberal government's reckless experiment of flooding our streets with taxpayer-funded hard drugs. Our once-safe neighbourhoods are now plagued by crime, chaos, death and disorder. The justice minister recently tweeted, “This isn't the Wild West.” I would like him to say that to residents in downtown Barrie. A resident recently wrote a letter to my office to express his concern, stating, “This situation is unacceptable. My children should be able to walk safely down the street without encountering garbage, needles, makeshift encampments or open drug use. Allowing this to continue is a failure of leadership and a betrayal of the residents who work hard to maintain their homes, pay their taxes and raise their families here. A clear line must be drawn. People cannot simply set up tents wherever they choose, and open drug use cannot be ignored. This is not only a public health and safety crisis but also a direct threat to law and order. By tolerating it, we send the message that community standards and laws no longer matter.” At the federal level, the Liberal government must face reality and take immediate action to protect Canadians. The Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to amend the Criminal Code to include a much-needed stand-on-guard principle, fix Canada's broken bail system, reverse the reckless drug policy and repeal soft-on-crime legislation so that dangerous criminals receive jail time, not bail. To conclude, I would like to reiterate that Conservatives are supportive of some measures in Bill C-2. However, we are deeply concerned about others. I am extremely concerned that there are no new sentencing provisions, there are no new mandatory jail sentencing provisions, there are no mandatory jail terms for fentanyl traffickers who terrorize our communities and there are no new mandatory jail terms for criminals who terrorize our communities with guns. This is the reality of Canada. Criminals, including those charged with trafficking fentanyl, smuggling firearms or committing violent assaults, are being routinely released on bail, often within hours. The bill would not address that reality in any way, shape or form. Conservatives believe that Canadians deserve to feel safe in their homes, in their streets and in their communities. As of today, Bill C-2 is a bad bill. In its current form, it will be difficult for Conservatives to support the bill. What is the solution? We recommend that Liberals copy our ideas. Our leader has said time and time again, “Please use our ideas.” Conservatives have brought forward serious proposals in the form of private members' bills and otherwise to fix our broken—

Mr. Speaker, that was an interesting question from across the aisle. I did have many quotes in mind of what I have been hearing back in my community. It is chaos back home. He wants to talk about conspiracy theories. These are not conspiracy theories; these are facts. Total violent crime is up 49.84%; total homicides are up 27.75%; total sexual assaults are up 74.83%; total violent firearms offences are up 116.4%; extortion is up 357%; auto theft is up 45%; total sexual violations against children are up 118%; forcible confinement and kidnapping is up 10%, indecent harassing communications are up 86%; and trafficking in persons is up 83%. This is from 2015 to 2023. I can keep going on with this list. Maybe they will ask me another question and I can continue with my list.

Mr. Speaker, when I was at the public safety committee the last time, we discussed this issue in great detail. I would like to go over some of the issues or some of the concerns that Conservatives had. We have been consistent in trying to make our borders stronger. We have been calling for this for years. It was only when the President of the United States called on us to take action that we actually did. When Conservatives called for action, there was no action. Conservatives have called for the addition of thousands of border agents; the extension of CBSA powers along the entire border, not just crossings; the installation of border surveillance towers as well as truck-mounted drone systems to spot border incursions; the installation of high-powered scanners at all major land crossings and shipping ports; the tracking of departures so that government officials will know which deportees are in Canada illegally; the toughening of penalties for repeat violent offenders; the ending of catch-and-release bail and of house arrest for violent criminals; and the elimination of multiple murder discounting in sentencing. Those were just a few. I will wait for my next question.

Mr. Speaker, what I saw happening last summer in Barrie was remarkable. The downtown area was becoming unlivable. Businesses were closing up. The good mayor there took the drastic step of declaring a state of emergency and doing something about it. We are actually starting to clean up our downtown area and starting to move the tents and get people the help they need. It is a big issue, but at least the mayor there is dealing with it.

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, lawlessness has become the norm in Canada. In many cities, children cannot play safely in parks, families cannot walk down sidewalks, businesses are suffering and residents are living in fear. Tent encampments and lawlessness are taking over public spaces. This summer, Barrie mayor Alex Nuttall was forced to take the extraordinary step of declaring a state of emergency to try to restore order back to Barrie. Canada was not like this 10 years ago. When will the Prime Minister stop this reckless Liberal agenda and bring order back to our communities?

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague's very informative speech this morning. One of the things I found a little shocking, and I am sure most Canadians would like to know a bit more about, is the opening up of our citizenship for people coming in, not having a security background check, and the implications that could have to our already burgeoning and struggling justice system. What, if any, amendments could be brought forward to tighten up that part of the bill for Canadians going forward?

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently for the last few minutes, and the member opposite asked for any suggestions or amendments. One of the things I would like to put forward is that in this legislation, Bill C-3, there is no talk of any background or security checks for any of these people who could be getting clearance and citizenship to come to Canada. I wonder if the Liberals feel that maybe it is a good idea to include that in this bill, going forward.

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, the cost of groceries and food prices continue to skyrocket. This year alone, the cost of apples is up 19%, beef strip loin is up 34%, white rice is up 14% and infant formula is up 9%. We know the Liberal government's deficit spending drives inflation and leads to higher prices at the grocery store. Will the minority Liberal government table a budget that reverses this inflationary spending so Canadians can afford to put food on their table?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he wants to be held accountable for what Canadians pay at the grocery store. This year, Canadians are spending $800 more on groceries, and the Barrie Food Bank is now supporting upwards of 7,000 people per month, 37% of whom are children. Instead of offering relief and a real fiscal plan, the Prime Minister is spending a half-trillion dollars without telling Canadians where the revenue is coming from. When will the Prime Minister table a budget that fights inflation so that Canadians can afford to feed their families?

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her words on Bill C-2 today. I just wanted to bring up that back in December, under the 44th Parliament, there was an opposition day motion brought forward by the Conservative Party that listed many of the same factors we are debating here today. Some of them, as my colleague has mentioned, obviously are important to her because she is in a border riding. We had talked about getting more scanners and putting more boots on the ground. At that point in time, the Bloc, the Liberals and the NDP all voted against our opposition day motion. I am wondering now if the member regrets that. It sounds like she is changing her mind and realizing it is important. What has been the change of heart?

Mr. Speaker, my colleague and I have ridings that are very similar, and I found what he said very similar to what I was hearing at doors. He mentioned a story about a young gentleman driving truck who could not get out of his parents' basement and was struggling. I heard those stories repeatedly at doors also. I wonder if the member could tell me how we are going to restore hope now. What are we going to tell people who see what is in place and who are still going to be struggling for the next few years? What is the member telling his constituents with regard to how we can be here and fight for them every day to make sure life becomes more affordable?

Mr. Speaker, it is nice to see you in the chair. I am sure your wealth of knowledge will serve us well. I am looking forward to that. I congratulate the member opposite on his re-election. It is nice to see him back here again. I do have a quick question. I was listening to your words and speech, and you mentioned that at the doors, you heard concerns about overspending, Liberal overspending, over many years. We heard this morning, confirmed by your own leader, the Prime Minister, that there was going to be an increase of 8% in spending. How do you reconcile that increase in spending with what you were hearing at the doors about what you had been currently overspending?

Madam Speaker, the member opposite for Timmins—James Bay talked a lot about the fentanyl situation here in Canada. Recently, a memo drafted by CSIS for the Prime Minister stated, “CSIS identifies more than 350 organized crime groups actively involved in the domestic illegal fentanyl market”. We are now producing much more fentanyl here in Canada, and we have become a net exporter of fentanyl rather than an importer of this product. Can the member sit back and say this is not a Canada-created problem? We are now exporting more of this drug than we are importing, and we are sending it to other countries. We have an overabundance of it and it is obviously a problem. What has the member got to say about that issue?

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to this important motion on behalf of the great people of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, and I just want to remind the Speaker that I will be splitting my time with the great member for Chilliwack—Hope. I am always happy to discuss the issue of border security and how we can maintain and improve our relationship with the United States. Given that Canada and the United States share the longest undefended border in the world, addressing the very real and very serious public safety issues we are facing at home are of the utmost importance to managing our relationship with our biggest trading partner and greatest ally. U.S. President-elect Trump has made it very clear that he will impose a crippling 25% tariff on all Canadian products if Canada does not fix our chaos at the border and get a handle on the fentanyl crisis that is plaguing our country. While Conservatives agree that these issues must be addressed, we do not want to address these issues for the sake of the United States but for the sake of Canadians. For far too long, the Liberal government has taken a soft-on-crime approach to drugs at our borders, and as a result, Canadians are suffering. The Prime Minister made a deal with the British Columbia NDP to decriminalize fentanyl, crack and heroin. He lowered jail sentences for drug kingpins and did nothing to prevent the import of the deadly precursor chemicals that are cooked into poison in drug superlabs and sold on our streets. The Prime Minister has also broken our border. Since the Prime Minister came to power, there has been a 632% increase in U.S. border patrol encounters with people illegally attempting to enter the United States from Canada. In the first 10 months of 2024 alone, the U.S. border patrol has intercepted more than 21,000 people illegally crossing the border from Canada into the U.S. The NDP-Liberal government sat back and watched as the backlog of the number of asylum claims in Canada skyrocketed from 10,000 to 250,000 over the past nine years. There are as many as 500,000 people in Canada who are here illegally. Statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that roughly twice as many suspected terrorists have tried to cross from Canada into the U.S. as from Mexico into the U.S. in recent years. Additionally, in the 12 months leading up to September 2024, U.S. border agents seized about 11,600 pounds of drugs entering the United States from Canada. Seizures of fentanyl doses more than tripled between 2023 and 2024, rising from 239,000 doses to 839,000 doses. The issue of fentanyl production in Canada has skyrocketed under the Prime Minister. Drug kingpins and gangsters are allowed to operate with impunity, and if they are caught, many of these criminals can serve their sentences in the comfort of their own homes under his soft-on-crime policies. A memo drafted by CSIS to the Prime Minister recently stated that CSIS identified more than 350 organized crime groups actively involved in the domestic illegal fentanyl market, and “China continues to be listed as the main source country for a variety of precursor chemicals intended for the illegal production of drugs in Canada and some illegal drugs smuggled into Canada.” We are producing so much fentanyl here in Canada that we have become a net exporter of fentanyl rather than an importer of the product. According to the RCMP, the fentanyl threat in Canada has shifted from one of importation to one of domestic production. Almost all of the fentanyl consumed in Canada is now “produced in Canada”, according to a criminology professor at the Université de Montréal, and there is actually a production surplus. While we are certainly exporting fentanyl to the U.S. and distributing it in the domestic market here in Canada, the RCMP's federal serious and organized crime program has stated that the fentanyl that is produced in Canada is also destined for export to southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, where drug users pay considerably higher prices for fentanyl than in Canada and the U.S. How did we get here? Why have we become a net exporter of fentanyl? Before 2019, fentanyl was effectively legal in China. We could go on the Internet and find legitimate Chinese companies selling fentanyl online. This Chinese-made fentanyl flooded Canadian streets throughout the mid-2010s. In 2019, Beijing finally caved to pressure, primarily from the United States, and blanket-banned the production and sale of all fentanyl analogues. However, it continued to fuel the fentanyl crisis by directly subsidizing the manufacturing of the precursor chemicals and materials that are used to make the drugs by traffickers. In April 2024, U.S. investigators discovered a Chinese government website that revealed tax rebates for the production of specific fentanyl precursors as well as other synthetic drugs, as long as those companies sold them outside of China. We know this had a significant impact on the Canadian production of fentanyl, because seizures of precursor chemicals increased dramatically between 2020 and 2021. In the first half of 2021, our border officers seized 5,000 kilograms of precursor chemicals, up from 500 kilograms the year before. Last year, the U.S. sanctioned several Chinese companies and individuals who have profited from the trade of precursor chemicals without facing consequences in China. So far, Canada has not sanctioned any of these individuals. The enforcement of both exports and imports at our west coast ports is also dismal. The public safety committee recently did a study on auto theft and learned just how little we are searching and seizing at our ports. In 2023, the mayor of Delta, British Columbia, called out the Liberal government for its failure to address the rampant crime at the port of Vancouver. He stated, “We're witnessing a relentless flow of illegal drugs, weapons and contraband into Canada through our ports and that threatens our national security.... They need to recognize this. We have a fentanyl crisis going through our community here in Delta, through Metro Vancouver, through the province, across the nation”. Just recently, Mark Weber, the CBSA union head, was on Global News and stated, “We search less than 1% of what comes into Canada”. It is clear that something must be done. We must act to fix our borders and stop the rampant production of fentanyl within our borders. Many constituents have been writing and calling to ask the following: Why did it take so long to address these very real issues? Why did it take the United States president-elect threatening crippling tariffs for the Prime Minister to take any meaningful steps to address the chaos at our borders and the scourge of fentanyl on our streets? Was it not enough that parents were seeing their children overdose on fentanyl in homeless encampments, that Jewish communities faced threats from ISIS sympathizers who came to the country on student visas or that Canadians were being gunned down by gangsters with illegal guns that had been smuggled over our borders? All these terrible realities that Canadians are facing should have been enough for the Prime Minister to act. Instead, he stood by and told Canadians over and over again that they have never had it so good. Only Conservatives have a real plan to address the crime and chaos at our borders and to bring our loved ones home drug-free. Today, we are asking all parties to support our common-sense plan calling on the Liberal government to address the illegal importation of fentanyl precursors and the illegal production and export of fentanyl here at home. Conservatives are calling on the government today to reverse Liberal Bill C-5, to reinstate longer jail sentences for drug kingpins, to ban the importation of fentanyl precursors, to buy high-powered scanners, to put more boots on the ground at our ports to stop fentanyl and its ingredients from coming into our country and to stop buying unsafe supply of opioids. Conservatives want to stop drug overdoses so that not one more parent has to bury their son or daughter, after 47,000 other Canadians have died. That is more than we lost in the Second World War, and it represents a 200% annual increase in drug overdose deaths since the Prime Minister's radical liberalization of drugs. The Liberal government and everyone in this place must put partisanship aside, not just for the sake of team Canada but for the sake of the families who are suffering, and support our common-sense Conservative plan. We must secure our borders and bring our loved ones home drug-free.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard this banter quite a bit, so I have some facts and figures. There were the exact numbers of full-time employees in the CBSA. In 2006-07, there were 12,383 employees and in 2015-16, which is the period the member opposite is talking about, there were 13,774 full-time employees. That is a net increase, so we have proven that one wrong today. The budget itself, in 2005-06, for CBSA, when Stephen Harper took over, was $1.236 million. In 2015-16, when Stephen Harper left, it was almost $1.8 million. Those are the facts.

Mr. Speaker, I think those are good questions, although I am not sure about the last one. I will mention that he is talking about the border. The border is a problem right across Canada. We heard that in the public safety committee. We have been talking about the border and how porous it is. We know that there is not a lot of security going on at a lot of points. We have been hearing, lately, in our committee that CBSA has had no jurisdiction, since 1932, between border points. There is talk about putting them in place over that. We need to do some stuff. We need to not just be getting threatened with tariffs to finally take action. This has been going on for a long time, for far too long, and it is a shame that it has taken a president-elect to bring this to our Prime Minister's attention.

Mr. Speaker, it has been absolutely terrible what this nasty drug has done in Canada. I would just like to mention a couple of the statistics. Since the Prime Minister was first elected, over 47,000 Canadians have died from drug overdoses. Just last year, 8,049 Canadians were killed by opioids. That is a 184% increase since he became Prime Minister. One of these was Brianna MacDonald, who died of an overdose in a homeless encampment in Abbotsford, British Columbia. She died only a month after her 13th birthday. Greg Sword lost his 14-year-old daughter Kamilah to a drug overdose in 2022. It has been absolutely horrific and painful to hear what has been going on. We need to deal with this. We need to get our border under control, and we need to make sure good, healthy, all-age Canadians can live a healthy, good lifestyle without fentanyl in it.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to draw to our attention to something that just came out from York Regional Police. It was Project Skyfall. This is amazing. This is what is going on in Canada. These are facts. This is truth. This morning, York Regional Police announced that they arrested 17 individuals, all on robberies and drug trafficking. They said it was a multi-faceted criminal organization. There have been 83 charges laid. They seized over 14.4 million dollars' worth of drugs and weapons. This is going to be the part that is not shocking. Of those 17 who were arrested this morning, seven were currently out on bail. We have a serious problem in Canada. Let us deal with it.

Madam Speaker, my question this morning is right on point because it is about wasted money. That is really what we are talking about here today with this scandal. I listened to my colleague give a great version of the events that have taken place. We are talking about ethics that have gone awry. There is $400 million that has gone elsewhere while people across Canada are struggling. How much could the $400 million have helped his residents? Also, from what we are seeing in the Auditor General's report this morning, billions of dollars are perhaps now missing. Money is going out the window everywhere. What does the member think about that, and how much could this money be helping the residents of his riding?

Madam Speaker, we are hearing more and more about this scandal. We have been talking now for months about how much money has gone and missing and how many ethics charges there are. It is unbelievable. We heard this morning from the Auditor General's report that things are growing more and more. My only concern is that there are so many scandals and issues that people are losing track. My colleague opposite from Dufferin—Caledon mentioned some whistle-blower testimony. There is one thing he may not have mentioned, which I would like to read and get his comments on. This is directly from the SDTC whistle-blower, who said, “I think the current government is more interested in protecting themselves and protecting the situation from being a public nightmare. They would rather protect wrongdoers and financial mismanagement than have to deal with a situation like SDTC in the public sphere.” Could the member comment on that and why these documents are not being produced?

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the Liberal government is not worth the crime or the chaos. Just this week, a Winnipeg police officer was stabbed in the neck during an arrest at a shopping mall. While I am relieved to hear that the officer is recovering, incidents like these are happening far too often under the Liberal government. The 50% increase in violent crime since the Liberal government came to power is a direct result of the Prime Minister's soft-on-crime catch-and-release policies. The Liberals made life easier for violent criminals by repealing mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes with Bill C-5, made it easier to get bail with Bill C-75 and failed to stop the flow of illegal guns across the U.S. border. Canadians deserve a common-sense Conservative government that will ensure repeat violent offenders remain behind bars while awaiting trial and will bring back mandatory jail time for serious violent crimes. A Conservative government will bring home safe streets.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Sarnia—Lambton for her great words in that very informative speech. At the heart of this situation is a tremendous scandal of the SDTC issue, and the $400 million that has gone missing. The Auditor General has confirmed that. In my riding of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, the biggest two concerns right now are the economy and crime. I would like to know if the member has any ideas on how this $400 million could go towards helping people in the economy right now and towards fighting crime, the two biggest issues in my area.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good colleague and bordering neighbour to the north from Simcoe North. I would like to quote something very interesting that came from a whistle-blower in the testimony on SDTC. They said, “I think the current government is more interested in protecting themselves and protecting the situation from being a public nightmare. They would rather protect wrongdoers and financial mismanagement than have to deal with a situation like SDTC in the public sphere.” That is quite a resounding quote. What are the member's comments on this quote from the whistle-blower?

Mr. Speaker, what a great way to start a week: listening to the great and insightful knowledge being shared by my neighbour and colleague from Simcoe—Grey. Because he is from my area and his riding borders mine, I want to touch base with him. I hear day in and day out in my riding about how hard he works in his riding and how many events he goes to. He is always out there. He has boots on the ground and does anything he can to listen to his constituents. I appreciate that from him. Since you have heard so much information, I want to know if you are also hearing about this terrible loss of $400 million, about how much your residents are suffering and about how the $400 million from this fiasco scandal could have helped residents in your riding.

Madam Speaker, after nine years, the NDP-Liberals are not worth the crime. Canadians recently learned that Paul Bernardo, the vile serial killer and rapist, is scheduled for his third parole hearing later this month. This comes after the Liberal government allowed him to be transferred to a medium-security prison. These parole hearings are deeply retraumatizing to the French and Mahaffy families, who need to travel far from their homes to provide victim impact statements every two years, despite the fact that this monster is serving an indeterminate sentence. Will the Prime Minister finally stand up for victims and assure Canadians that Paul Bernardo will remain behind bars, where he belongs, for the rest of his life?

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his great 20-minute speech on this issue. We heard some questions earlier about how we got here. We got here because there is a lack of producing documents. That is why we have been here for almost a month now. Why does the member think we are here? What are the Liberals so afraid of with respect to these documents and why are they not producing them? Maybe he can expand on that for me.