Parliamentary Speeches
677 speeches by Gary Anandasangaree — Page 2 of 14
Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Sackville—Bedford—Preston for his very important question. I am pleased to say that on October 1, the pilot program—
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Mr. Speaker, if the party opposite wants to be serious on crime, it needs to support legislation in front of the House that will advance criminal justice reform. We have Bill C-2 before the House, which the opposition is unwilling to support. This is a measure that was asked for by law enforcement. It will strengthen our border to make sure our country is safe. There is no doublespeak here because…
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Mr. Speaker, let me thank the hon. member for Sackville—Bedford—Preston for this very important question. Let me advise him that on October 1, we launched the firearms compensation program in Cape Breton. We already have people signing up and registering to ensure they are eligible for compensation. We look forward to the expansion of this program across Canada. In addition, we are working to secu…
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Mr. Speaker, since taking office on April 28, this new government has been working on bail reform. We have been consulting with law enforcement agencies across the country. We have been speaking to mayors. We have been speaking to provincial leaders. We will continue to consult, and we will continue to bring forward the most comprehensive bail reform this country has ever seen.
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Mr. Speaker, we will be bringing forward bail reform in very short order. Let me take this opportunity to talk about other legislation that is in the House that the party opposite could pass today. That is Bill C-2, which would give law enforcement officers additional tools to do their job more effectively in order to make sure that guns do not come through our border. That is the type of commitme…
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Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing forward comprehensive bail reform legislation, which we will do over the next several weeks. I want to be clear that this issue around bail is not just the responsibility of the federal government. It also involves the provinces. It is up to the provinces to fund their courts adequately. It is up to them to ensure their justices of the peace and judges ar…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada has a robust system of determining who is admissible and who is not admissible to Canada. I would like to confirm that the Canada Border Services Agency is working to remove the largest number of people in Canadian history. Over 20,000 people are targeted to be removed and are inadmissible to Canada. We are doing it as we speak. We will continue to work with law enforcement and…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that the assault-style firearms compensation program launched this morning in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It is a pilot that will expand across Canada. I am also pleased to announce that a number of individuals who are law-abiding gun owners have registered and are looking forward to the compensation they will receive. Canadians are law-abiding people. Gun …
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Mr. Speaker, there are over 19,000 makes and models of guns that are legally available in Canada that people can use for hunting and other sporting activities. What is important is that we are taking lethal weapons off our streets, weapons that have been used in mass killings and weapons that have no place in Canada, including AR-15s, which have been directly linked to mass casualty events over th…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to note that there are 19,000 legal firearms that could be used for hunting and farming.
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Madam Speaker, I have indicated that we will continue to work with the opposition and continue to work through the parliamentary process to strengthen the bill.
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Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to talk about our compensation program, which launched this week. As members know, Cape Breton is where we will launch the pilot of this program. People can register starting on October 1. We are making sure that those prohibited weapons are off our streets, but at the same time, we will be ensuring that law-abiding gun owners are able to get fair com…
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Madam Speaker, to have a serious conversation about crime, we need to have a serious conversation about guns. As of this week, we have launched the program in Cape Breton, where we are compensating lawful gun owners who are willing to forgo their AR-15 or other harmful weapons. In addition to that, we are securing the border with $1.3 billion in investments. We have Bill C-2 right in front of the …
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Madam Speaker, the predecessor bill to Bill C-8 was Bill C-26. A lot of work went into ensuring that it is the best bill we can bring forward. A number of changes were made. As members will recall, Bill C-26 was almost completed in the previous session. Having said that, we are always open to ensuring the bill is strengthened. The privacy rights of Canadians are essential to the government. We are…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, who has returned to Parliament. I am very excited to work with her again in her capacity as a member. I want to highlight that there are a number of provisions in the bill that would ensure the security of privacy information in the course of this bill's implementation. For example, the personal, confidential information of individuals or businesses cou…
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Madam Speaker, I would argue that Bill C-8 would in fact help small businesses. If members recall, this is about securing critical infrastructure, whether it is in telecommunications, transportation, finance or other critical infrastructure. For example, if the banking system were to be taken down or was off-line for several days or even hours, it could severely impact the ability of small busines…
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Madam Speaker, as this bill goes through the parliamentary process, whether here, at committee or in the other place, we will of course welcome the opportunity to discuss additional measures we need to take. Bill C-8 was introduced in the form that was completed when Bill C-26 went through all the processes. This is just a continuation of that process. I believe that we have incorporated all the p…
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Madam Speaker, it is important to recognize that this bill would not impact or impose conditions on SMEs. It is much more for bigger telecommunications companies, transportation companies and critical infrastructure across Canada that are quite large enterprises. They are not small businesses per se. In fact, the work we do protecting and ensuring cybersecurity is to protect and support small busi…
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Madam Speaker, we have prohibited 2,500 firearms, lethal firearms, such as AR-15s, which are used for mass casualty events—
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Madam Speaker, there is a clear difference. On this side of the House, we believe in the safety and security of Canadians, and making sure that lethal weapons are off our streets. On the opposite side, they are about bringing forward American-style gun laws, essentially enabling AR—
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Madam Speaker, it is probably a good thing that the member opposite is not a translator. Let me be very clear. We brought forward a pilot program in Nova Scotia to ensure that the systems we have put in place as part of the compensation program work. The program will last for about five to seven weeks. We will expand it nationwide, across Canada, so that all law-abiding Canadians can seek compensa…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. Canada's critical infrastructure providers and enterprises are increasingly targeted. It is not just our government that is aware of these threats. The Canadian public is increasingly seeing these threats in headlines. They see that malicious cyber-actors are breaching our country's IT systems, accessing sensitive information and putting lives in danger. They s…
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Madam Speaker, in addition to the compensation program pilot that we launched this week in Nova Scotia, we have invested $1.3 billion in our borders. We brought forward Bill C-2, which is in front of the House right now. With the support of the opposition, we could pass it today to ensure that our borders are stronger so we can keep illegal firearms off our streets. We will also be hiring 1,000 ne…
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moved that Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to a committee. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to speak today to Bill C-8, an act respecting cyber security, and I want to acknowledge that we are gathered here on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algon…
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Mr. Speaker, we have a comprehensive plan to address guns. It starts with the buyback program that we launched this week. It is about investing $1.3 billion at our borders to increase scanning capabilities, as well as new tools for law enforcement. It is about hiring 1,000 new CBSA and RCMP officers. It is about Bill C-2, which is in the House right now. If the party opposite is serious about guns…
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Mr. Speaker, last year, the CBSA removed over 18,000 individuals who were ineligible to be in Canada. This year, we are on target to removing over 20,000 people. The work that our frontline border officers do is incredible. I want to thank them for their work. We are going to be adding another 1,000 CBSA officers to ensure that our borders are even safer and more secure than ever.
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Mr. Speaker, the people playing politics are in the party opposite. They are actually fundraising off our buyback program. This week, I had the chance to launch the program in Cape Breton as a pilot. We look forward to its expansion across Canada. We look forward to Canadians surrendering the over 80,000 AR-15s that are in their possession. We need to take dangerous weapons off our streets, and we…
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Mr. Speaker, law-abiding citizens abide by the law. We launched a program this week to support law-abiding Canadians in giving up their AR-15s and other prohibited weapons to obtain compensation. It is a fair way to treat law-abiding citizens. It is about ensuring that our streets are safer. It is in line with the work we are doing at the border, with $1.3 billion in investments and Bill C-2, whic…
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Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the number of car thefts is down significantly across Canada. Across Canada, they are down 19% year over year. We have invested $1.3 billion in the border. We have invested in new scanners. We have invested in new equipment that will ensure that items going out of the country are inspected more frequently. We are investing in another 1,000 RCMP officers. We will …
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Mr. Speaker, I was proud to launch the assault-style firearms compensation program in Nova Scotia. We look forward to expanding it across Canada. It is part of a broader plan to ensure that our guns are off our streets. It includes changes to the Criminal Code. It includes resources at the border, a $1.3-billion investment at the border. Bill C-2 is in the House today. I invite the party opposite …
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Mr. Speaker, staggering incompetence is when someone thinks that AR-15s can be used for hunting and farming. We have brought forward a very important plan in Nova Scotia. We look forward to expanding it across Canada. We look forward to doing that in the near future. We are going to be investing in 1,000 new RCMP, as well as 1,000 new CBSA officers. We will ensure that our borders are safe and gun…
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Mr. Speaker, this year the Canada Border Services Agency will be removing 20,000 people who are not eligible to be here. This is one of the highest numbers in recorded Canadian history. We will continue to strengthen the border. We will continue to remove those who are not eligible to be here. We will also be investing in 1,000 new CBSA officers, along with 1,000 new RCMP officers, to make our bor…
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Mr. Speaker, this year, the Canada Border Service Agency has removed over 20,000 people. That is one of the largest removals of people in Canadian history. CBSA will continue to do its job. We will ensure that we hire another 1,000 new CBSA officers to strengthen the border and ensure enforcement. We will continue to make sure our borders are safe. We will, at the same time, ensure that guns are o…
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Mr. Speaker, this afternoon we were able to launch the assault-style firearms compensation program. It starts, first off, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with a pilot, which will last for five to seven weeks. From there we will expand it across Canada. This is what Canadians voted for on April 28. They gave us a mandate to implement the program, and we will be implementing the program. We will ensure …
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Mr. Speaker, this year we are on target to remove over 20,000 individuals who do not meet the requirements to be in Canada. That will be a record level of removals for Canadian history. We are working toward ensuring that this is accelerated even further. The addition of another 1,000 CBSA officers will help this process. We will continue to make sure that Canada and our border are safe. That is e…
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Mr. Speaker, the Canada Border Services Agency has been working very hard, not just through the summer, but over the last several years, to ensure that our borders are stronger than ever. This year we are on target to have more than 20,000 removals of those who are not eligible to be in this country. That number is accelerating by the month. This is the type of work that our exceptional front serv…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate another opportunity to talk about the compensation program that I launched at 12:30 today, along with many of my colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Nature. We have heard in this House about the enormous work that she has done for decades in advocating for this moment. Survivors across Canada have asked for this. It is important that we get weapons such as AR…
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Mr. Speaker, we made a promise in the last election. On April 28, Canadians gave us a mandate, and we are fulfilling that promise this afternoon. We have launched a compensation program where, in Cape Breton as a starting point, we were piloting the ability for individual owners who have prohibited firearms to turn them in to law enforcement. They will collect them; they will inspect them and then…
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. If Grandpa Joe is using AR-15s to go hunting, we have to have a much more serious conversation about hunting. What we are going forward with are 2,500 prohibited weapons, like the AR-15s that are killing people around the world, including those in mass casualty incidents in Canada. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to have a real conversation about crime, he also …
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Mr. Speaker, we look forward to welcoming 1,000 new RCMP and 1,000 new CBSA officers to the ranks of our frontline public service. I was in Regina, speaking at the RCMP training facilities. They are getting prepared to train the 1,000 new RCMP officers we will be onboarding over the next several years. It is important that we continue to invest in law enforcement. That is exactly what the Prime Mi…
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Mr. Speaker, I invite this House and the members opposite to have a serious conversation about guns. When we want to talk about crime and when we want to work together to ensure that our streets are safer, it needs to be a serious conversation. It cannot be hyperbole. What we have announced today would take, from our streets, weapons that should not be in possession of Canadians, which include AR-…
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Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the member opposite is a lawyer, and I know he knows what defamation is. I invite him to say the exact same words outside the House. What I will say is that the program we launched today is one that will make our communities safer. It will ensure that guns such as—
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Mr. Speaker, let me just take this opportunity to talk about the compensation program we launched today. The pilot will take place in Cape Breton. I want to thank my colleagues from Cape Breton for their support. I also want to thank the police chief, as well as those who are going to step forward and apply for the rebate. This is smart policy. We are moving forward on it. I fully believe that we …
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Mr. Speaker, I realize that the member opposite who just asked the question is a lawyer, and I know that he knows defamation law. I invite him to say the exact same words outside the House. What I will say is that we have launched a program today that will ensure the safety and security of Canadians. We will compensate those who are willing to bring forward their prohibited weapons and collect rem…
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Mr. Speaker, on April 28, Canadians gave this government a mandate to do many things, including hiring 1,000 CBSA and 1,000 RCMP officers. I am sorry, but it is obvious that the Leader of the Opposition does not understand the hiring process, nor the planning and work that go into hiring these 1,000 exceptional men and women who are going to serve this country. I want to take this opportunity to w…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to clarify what we are doing. First and foremost, what the member opposite said is factually incorrect. I support this policy. That is why I brought it forward today at 12:30 this afternoon. I, along with several of my colleagues, as well as the police chief of Cape Breton and the deputy commissioner of the RCMP, announced the compensation program as a pil…
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Mr. Speaker, public safety is not about binary choices. We can do both. We can ensure that guns are off our streets by ensuring that people who turn in their firearms can get compensated for prohibited weapons. That is what we are doing with the launch of our gun buyback program today. We will continue to make smart criminal justice reforms to ensure that criminals are off our streets and that bai…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very puzzled as to why the Conservatives are against getting guns off our streets. I am puzzled as to why AR-15s are required for hunting. I am not a hunter, but I have spoken to many hunters, and many of them will say that AR-15s do not belong on our streets, in our communities. That is what we are doing here today. With the plan that we launched today in Cape Breton, and which …
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Mr. Speaker, I do want to caution the member that he should really tread lightly in the language he is using, describing the particular group that he is concerned about. It is borderline racism, and I do caution him to take note of his language. Let me be very clear. We are investing in our border. We have already invested $1.3 billion in securing our border. We are hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers,…
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite, I am told, understands weapons and understands firearms. I want to ask him a very simple question. Why do we need AR-15s in our communities? Why do we need them in our neighbourhoods? Why do we need them on our streets? Can the member tell this House why we need that type of weapon on our streets, making it harder and more unsafe for Canadians?
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