Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. We are currently seeing a 20% to 25% decrease in auto thefts. At the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, we had an opportunity to hear all the stakeholders explain things to us. They told us that what was needed most was co-operation and collaboration. Bill C‑12 will ensure that all stakeholders have all the relevant information on …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this month, as we celebrate women who inspire, innovate and transform the world around them, I would like to highlight the stellar journey of a young woman named Cindy Ouellet, a top paralympian in wheelchair basketball and para nordic skiing, a demanding discipline in which she excels. She has represented Canada at four summer games and once at the winter games. Although she trains f…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the inimitable member for Davenport. Our government is committed to taking all the steps necessary to keep our border secure. Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act, is a crucial step in our ongoing commitment to keeping our communities safe, cracking down on sophisticated criminal networks and modernizing our immigratio…
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Mr. Speaker, this option has been considered before and is entirely valid. It involves costs and coordination with law enforcement and local organizations. A number of provinces already have similar programs that are producing good results. We can confirm that defibrillators are an effective way to save lives.
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Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and feel safe. That is why we are giving police services and the CBSA the resources and tools they need to fight crime. Whether it is fighting fentanyl trafficking, illegal firearms imports, human trafficking, online pornography or money laundering, we are taking action. Canadians elected the Liberal Party of Canada because they know they can cou…
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are good at playing with numbers. Here is a statistic: In the United States, there are three times as many homicides as in Canada, particularly involving guns. We should ask ourselves a question: Why are all the Conservatives' measures copied from American measures that we know do not work? Canadians want Canadian methods for fighting crime. There is a good reason fo…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, all the weapons that have been declared prohibited were selected by a committee of experts, by people who know about firearms. We are not talking about members of Parliament here, but experts who know about firearms. These weapons meet all the criteria for military-style assault firearms. I want to reaffirm our government's commitment to upholding public safety through strict gun cont…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Canadian women's rugby 15s team, which, despite their opponents' terrifying haka, won a historic victory last week against former world champions the Black Ferns. This past Saturday, our players lost to the new world champions, the Red Roses, but not without putting up a stellar fight. Anyone who has ever played with a Gilbe…
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Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member's question, I am pleased to rise to discuss our government's commitments to strengthen gun control and to address gun violence in Canada. The safety of Canadians is the number one priority for this government and we are taking decisive action to stop the increase in gun violence at our borders and in our communities across Canada. The Ruger Mini-14 used by …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Calgary Centre for his question. Our government is working to implement a clear and ambitious plan to build a strong, united and resilient economy that serves Canadian businesses, workers and families. The Minister of Finance and National Revenue has already announced that he will present budget 2025 on November 4. We are faced with a series of historic challeng…
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Mr. Speaker, I respect the opinion of the member for Calgary Centre. We spent the entire summer touring the country from coast to coast to coast, and now we know what Canadians expect from this budget. Budget 2025 is the next step in our plan to stimulate investment and build a strong, united Canadian economy that provides better-paying jobs, higher incomes and a buffer against global shocks. It w…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, dozens of tuberculosis advocates and survivors are here in Ottawa today. They have come from across Canada and around the world to raise awareness among parliamentarians about this ancient infectious disease, which remains the deadliest in the world. Their tireless efforts have pushed governments worldwide to act on TB. Despite their successes, TB still claims the lives of over 1.2 mi…
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the hon. member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, even though he is comparing apples to oranges. He is all over the map. Let me begin by acknowledging the legitimate frustration many Canadians feel when they hear stories about repeat offenders being released on bail. These cases raise serious questions about the balance between pub…
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Madam Speaker, I can hear the urgency in my hon. colleague's voice. We share his expectations. However, I would remind him that, in the meantime, Bill C-2 still needs support and has to be passed. Other bills will follow in order, as quickly as the House sees fit. I invite my colleagues on the other side of the House to participate in the work and to co-operate fully. We have better data on bail r…
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Madam Speaker, let me begin by saying that this new government firmly believes in fairness, openness, and transparency in all aspects of procurement management. We are fully aware of past problems with respect to contracts and payments, particularly those made to GC Strategies and its predecessors in connection with previous investigations. The latest report reveals that many contracts and payment…
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Madam Speaker, our new government is committed to ensuring that federal procurement is open, fair and transparent. We thank the Auditor General of Canada for undertaking these important studies and for her findings and recommendations. I would remind the hon. member that, just last week, the Auditor General of Canada finally told the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates that s…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The federal government is committed to introducing legislation to strengthen the bail system in order to combat violent and organized crime. If someone is released on bail and has nowhere to go, that is not a failure of federal law. It is a failure of those who administer the justice system, and that is a provincial responsibility. It also means that provinces and t…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the bail system and criminal justice policy. Recent tragic events, marked by violent crimes committed by repeat offenders, are a painful reminder of the impact these acts have on our communities. These situations are unacceptable. I want to begin by offering my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, including the loved ones of Bailey McCourt in K…
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Mr. Speaker, in addition to the initiatives my colleague, the Minister of Justice, just outlined, we are studying a very important bill, Bill C-2, which will give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to fight crime. We are talking about fentanyl, firearms smuggling and transnational gangs. This will have a direct impact on our communities and on safety in our streets. We will always be the…
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Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of hiring 1,000 new customs officers and 1,000 additional RCMP personnel. We are already seeing a dramatic drop in illegal imports of firearms and fentanyl. We are keeping our promises, and we will soon have the personnel we need to do this work.
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Mr. Speaker, not only are we hiring more personnel, but we also have more helicopters, drones and scanners. We are making more arrests and finding more and more drugs. In short, it is working. Two weeks from now, I will be attending a graduation ceremony for new recruits who will be joining CBSA.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his excellent question. In fact, what we need to understand is that crime evolves, criminals' methods change, and organizations have become much more powerful; they are now transnational. There are actions that need to be taken that go beyond what used to be done. The courts are there to keep an eye on the government and tell it when it is going too far. That is…
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Mr. Speaker, La Prairie—Atateken is indeed a very beautiful riding. Our riding is no different from the rest of Canada. It has problems, too. Economic growth will go hand in hand with keeping people safe and healthy. In today's world, people face all kinds of challenges around mental health, physical health and safety. I am pleased to be contributing to this noble objective and to be making life e…
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Mr. Speaker, the measures at the border are working. We have reduced smuggling. This month, barely half a kilogram was seized at Canada's borders. The hard work is paying off. We will win our fight against fentanyl. It is also important that we continue our work across the country to keep people safe. As I said, substance abuse is a complex issue. There is no easy solution, but we are continuing t…
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Mr. Speaker, I was thrilled to hear my colleague's summary. He told us how Canada was built through big projects like the railway and the Trans-Canada Highway. I am curious to know my colleague's reaction to the new high-speed rail project between Toronto and Montreal, and the economic boom it will generate. This is exactly the kind of thing he was telling us about.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of hiring people. I do not have the exact figures, but I would be happy to share them. Anyway, we are on track to fill these gaps, and we will be hiring people as they graduate. I will actually be attending a graduation ceremony next month on October 26. New graduates are on the way. We look forward to hiring them and putting them to work to better protect Canadi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in this debate on Bill C‑2, the strong borders act. The government's number one responsibility is to keep families, children and our communities safe. We must bear this in mind as we analyze Bill C‑2, an ambitious but necessary piece of legislation to correct a number of shortcomings observed over the years. This bill will help us addre…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question. data on the specific makes and models of firearms used in crime are collected by individual law enforcement agencies across Canada for record keeping purposes. There is no central database at the national level with this information. With respect to part (b), extensive public engagement on the issue of banning handguns and assault-style firearm…
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Mr. Speaker, the Customs Act only requires importers to identify the country of origin, for example, “China”, of their goods, not the region. The region where goods originate within a country is not a data element that is mandatory; importers do not have the obligation to report it. However, the CBSA can report that from January 1, 2024 to June 25, 2025, of the 34 shipments that have been intercep…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Customs Act only requires importers to identify the country of origin, for example, “China”, of their goods, not the region. The region within a country where goods originate is not a data element that is mandatory; importers do not have the obligation to report it. As such, the CBSA cannot provide the information requested specific to Xinjiang. However, the Canada Border Services…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, or CFSC, is a prerequisite to apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence. The topics covered in the CFSC include the evolution of firearms, major parts, types and actions, basic firearms safety practices, ammunition, operating firearm actions, safe handling and carry procedures, firing techniques and procedures, care of non-restri…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (c) and (d) of the question, for security reasons and to maintain the integrity of the operations of the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, information pertaining to the use of boats has been withheld. As of June 11, 2025, the CBSA owns 11 rigid hull inflatable boats. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP, deploys helicopters, marine vessels, and drones,…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the assault-style firearms compensation program, ASFCP, opened to all eligible businesses between December 6, 2024, and April 30, 2025. Compensation amounts for assault-style firearms affected by the May 2020 prohibition were determined based on in-depth research and analysis, which includereviewing manufacturer prices, Canadian dealer and retailer prices, foreign …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), as there is no requirement to register non-restricted firearms with the RCMP Canadian firearms program, it is not possible to provide actual counts or estimates for the number of firearms legally owned in Canada or the number of firearms owners. However, as of December 31, 2024, there were 1,267,992 firearms registered in Canada and 814,005 licences with prohibited…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), to ensure the safety of our members and those we protect, as well as to ensure the integrity of security measures and operations, the RCMP does not disclose information that could expose specific details about any individual or group of individuals who were credibly threatened by foreign or domestic actors and contacted under the RCMP's duty to warn policy. With re…
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Mr. Speaker, regarding parts (a) to (d) and (p) to (v) of the question, due to security and safety issues, the names and locations of the contractors involved in the assault-style firearms compensation program, ASFCP, cannot be disclosed. On December 7, 2023, Public Services and Procurement Canada, PSPC, launched a competitive process to procure services for the collection, storage, verification, …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, CSC currently employs over 18,000 people, who work across the country and in a variety of different positions. The level of detail of the information requested is not systematically tracked in a centralized database. Similarly, it is not possible to complete a search of all CSC employees’ records within the time allotted. An access to information request for these types of inquiries c…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and in accordance with the Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in electronic format and in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data”, done at Mirabella Eclano on October 4, 2024.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (a)(i)-(ii) of the question, the Authorization Regime is an instrument to facilitate the delivery of certain, needed activities in areas controlled by a terrorist group, rather than an instrument to facilitate the allocation of funds. By statute, decisions to issue authorizations are based on weighing the benefits and risks of an activity. The Government of Canada…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, fentanyl is ravaging our communities and tearing families apart. That is a well-known fact. Bill C‑2 will step up the fight against fentanyl trafficking through important measures such as tighter controls on the chemical precursors used to manufacture fentanyl and enhanced powers for law enforcement to intercept and search shipments suspected of containing illegal drugs. We have also …
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Mr. Speaker, the strong borders act will crack down on organized crime, while making communities safer and providing the necessary guarantees to people who come to our borders and who are entitled to have their rights respected.
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I would like to reiterate our government's commitment to public safety, including through stricter gun control. We have banned over 2,500 assault-style firearms that were deemed inappropriate for recreational use, whether it be for hunting or sport shooting. Some 12,000 guns were bought back during the business phase of the program. Phase two, for individuals, will be…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, I am pleased to be able to tell him about our government's commitments to strengthening gun control and fighting gun violence in Canada. The safety of Canadians is one of the government's top priorities, and we are taking decisive action to prevent a rise in gun violence across the country, in all of our communities. In…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, Quebec is switching to electric vehicles because there is a well-developed network of charging stations on our roads. I would like the member to tell us how the standard of availability of electric vehicles will contribute to the growth of a Canada-wide network, and perhaps convince the rest of the country to follow Quebec's lead. I would also like the member to tell us how many charg…
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Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member could elaborate on the fact that, for the first time in a very long time, indigenous people will finally be allowed to participate in projects, to be part of projects and therefore be able to work on the very design and development of these projects, as well as benefit economically from them. I would like the member to comment on that, because this is new. Bill …
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Mr. Speaker, the firearms buyback program is a serious program to keep our communities safe. Some 12,000 weapons have already been bought back and 10,000 have been destroyed. The buyback program provides fair compensation to businesses, and soon to firearms owners. We will be going to the RCMP depot soon to meet with members of the Canadian firearms program and to hear their concerns in order to i…
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Mr. Speaker, the strong borders act would combat organized crime, protect the integrity of our immigration system and equip law enforcement with the tools it needs to strengthen our border. Bill C-2 would also contribute to our crackdown on fentanyl trafficking with important measures to support law enforcement, such as improving inter-agency intelligence sharing and empowering law enforcement to …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the government did more than that. It created the office of supplier integrity and compliance, a body independent of politicians. It will do the job because we gave it the tools to do so, the tools our Minister of Government Transformation intends to give it. These digital tools will allow it to monitor contracts with suppliers.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, after seven years, GC Strategies will not automatically become an eligible supplier again. The registrar will carefully review the situation and, because they are an independent entity, they will have to do the work suggested by the hon. member for Drummond to see if there are any links to other individuals besides this company. It should be noted that, in the case of GC Strategies' s…
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Mr. Speaker, we live under the rule of law. The government provided the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with all the information in its possession so that the RCMP could determine whether there were grounds for legal action. That is fine, because we expect governments not to interfere in the management of wrongdoing. We have passed on the information to the RCMP, and should charges be laid, we will …
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