Gary Anandasangaree

Mr. Speaker, as members are aware, earlier this year we passed an amount of transformational legislation that speaks to criminal justice reform. First and foremost, we have Bill C-14, which strengthens bail as well as sentencing, and Bill C-16, which ensures the rights of victims are protected. We will continue to support public safety and invest in our frontline officers, including hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel, as well as 1,000 CBSA officers.

Mr. Speaker, let me share some of the early results from the justice reforms that we brought forward. Extortion is down 10% across Canada. Firearms offence is down 14%. Homicide is down 16%, which is the lowest in a generation, and child sexual abuse and exploitation is down 21%. We will continue to ensure the safety and security of Canadians and continue to invest in law enforcement, to ensure that all Canadians are safe, and not just safe, but also feel safe.

Mr. Speaker, unlike the party opposite, we have every confidence in the RCMP to do their job. It is their responsibility to ensure that laws are adhered to, and I have every confidence that those in Manitoba will execute and discharge their duties as required.

Mr. Speaker, let me just repeat that the RCMP has operational independence, and in Manitoba they are contracted to do their job in Manitoba. I will assure the member opposite that the RCMP discharges their duties within their operational requirements. I can assure the member opposite and everyone in this House that the RCMP is the police of jurisdiction that can take care of this.

Mr. Speaker, let me just assure my colleague. I have had the opportunity to visit many prisons in the last year and a half. I have also had a chance to look at the core programming undertaken by CORCAN and the training that is undertaken and given to individuals, and I have had the chance to look at the remarkable success, including from ensuring there is training in construction. Just last month, I had the opportunity to visit an institution in Saskatchewan with Her Excellency the Governor General. We saw the actual impact CORCAN has on individual inmates, and it will prepare them for a life of employment once they get out of prison.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to table, in both official languages, on behalf of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, the departmental plans for 2025-26, the departmental plans for 2026-27 and the departmental results report for 2024-25.

Mr. Speaker, since Canada's new government came into place last year, it has put in an unprecedented level of criminal justice reform across the system. It starts with ensuring we have stronger sentencing as well as bail reform with Bill C-14. We are protecting the rights of victims with Bill C-16. We are also ensuring that those who are combatting hate are supported with the tools they need. We will continue to invest in law enforcement and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that it is hard to oppose the comprehensive set of criminal justice reforms our government has brought forward and then pretend we need to make more laws. What the member opposite is suggesting is that we have done nothing on this. We have moved forward with the most comprehensive set of legislation, including the reform of bail and sentencing, ensuring the rights of victims are protected and protecting our vulnerable communities. We will continue to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to remember Todd Baylis, who was killed in the line of duty in 1994. His bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Our government is committed to strengthening our criminal justice system and protecting victims' rights. That is why we passed Bill C-14, to strengthen bail and sentencing, as well as Bill C-16, to strengthen victims' rights. I continue to engage with the Toronto Police Association to ensure that we strengthen our laws.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that this matter is being politicized. What I will say is that victims absolutely deserve their right to be heard, as well as to be in attendance at these important hearings. We have been working with the Toronto Police Association. My commitment is to continue to work with them, to ensure that we have laws that reflect their needs but also to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I will note that this Sunday, many families of those officers who have been killed in the line of duty will be here in Ottawa. I look forward to meeting with those family members and to express our continued solidarity with those who died in the line of duty. I will also take this opportunity, as Constable Jeff Smith is fighting for his life, to ensure and to reiterate our support for law enforcement on the front lines. We will always be there to support them and their families.

Mr. Speaker, with great respect, what a disingenuous comment. All of us in this House, every single member of Parliament who was elected, stand with law enforcement, stand with victims and stand with those who have died in the line of duty. This is not a competition. We will ensure the safety and security of Canadians, and we will always stand with those on the front lines. It is shameful to suggest that one party stands with victims over another.

Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to honour the lives of Leslie Mahaffy, Kristen French and Tammy Homolka. As the House may know, this individual who has been in jail for a long period of time went to the University of Toronto Scarborough campus and petrified my community of Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park. The impact that this individual has had on our society is unprecedented, and I know that many people continue to struggle with the impact this individual has had. I can assure the House that we will continue to work with the Toronto police—

Mr. Speaker, let us just go back over the last six months and see the record of the Conservative Party of Canada. On Bill C-8, the party opposite dragged its feet and opposed the bill initially. Regarding Bill C-9, on protecting and combatting hate, the Conservatives fought tooth and nail right until the end and blocked this legislation that is going to help vulnerable communities. On Bill C-14, which is strengthening bail and sentencing, as well as Bill C-16, on the victims' rights, again, the Conservatives dragged their feet. That is the—

Mr. Speaker, let me just underscore that the issues around public safety, issues around parole and issues around bail should never be politicized. These are very important issues that we need to collaborate on and work together on. That is why I find it rather difficult when these issues are politicized. We will always stand with victims. We will always stand with people who are impacted. We also need to recognize that we have the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which balances the interests of both.

Mr. Speaker, since taking office last year, we have undertaken unprecedented amounts of legislative change to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. Let me just enumerate some of them: Bill C-14 strengthens bail as well as sentencing. Bill C-16 ensures that victims' rights are protected. Bill C-9 ensures the safety and security of communities. In addition, we are investing in law enforcement as well as the Canada Border Services Agency. We will do everything we can to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I have outlined some of the changes that we made to the criminal justice system, but let me also take this opportunity to share some statistics for the member opposite's information: Extortion is down 10%. Firearm offences are down 14%. Homicides are down 15%. Child sexual abuse and exploitation is down 21%. Auto theft is down 19%. We have more work to do, but I can assure members that the changes we have put in place will ensure the continued safety and security of all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been committed to the safety and security of all Canadians. Any form of violence, intimidation or transnational repression targeting individuals and communities in Canada is unacceptable and punishable under Canadian law. We are taking action to protect Canadians. We are passing the most comprehensive criminal justice reform in a generation. Just this afternoon, after many days of obstruction, we passed Bill C-22 on lawful access—

Mr. Speaker, finally, this House passed Bill C-22, which is on lawful access, despite days of obstruction from the opposition. It is a critical tool that law enforcement has been asking for in order to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.