Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, every Canadian deserves to be safe and to feel safe in their community. Over the course of the recent federal election campaign, we made several commitments to help reform Canada's bail system and to advance stronger penalties for those who commit serious offences against their fellow Canadians. We are willing to work across the aisle with other members to ensure that we put forward r…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking my colleague for the question. As the member knows full well, we are introducing new bills to protect communities that face hate from another community. This piece of legislation includes the criminalization of the wilful promotion of hatred using specific hate symbols. Of course, as the hon. member knows, decisions as to which groups are included are subje…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this bill specifically includes symbols that encourage the intentional promotion of hatred, including Nazi symbols as well as symbols of terrorist organizations. It is essential that the decisions as to which organizations are treated as terrorist organizations in this country are made independently by the national security apparatus. However, should the hon. member wish to put this t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
moved that Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), be read the second time and referred to a committee. Madam Speaker, today we begin debate on the combatting hate bill, which would offer additional protections to communities of people across this country that have been the subject of unjust actions of hate, not just tow…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my position on this exemption is that there is now an obligation to demonstrate good faith. I do not think it is in good faith for someone to use the exemption to avoid responsibility for a criminal offence. I am open to that. If the majority of the committee members vote to change the exemption based on the testimony they hear, I am open to that change.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to accept criticism from the Conservatives when it comes to issues of crime, given their completely lackadaisical approach to protecting Canadians against gun violence. When we look at their record, when they were last in government, they eroded investments at the border, making it easier to have guns illegally smuggled into this country. At every opportunity, they hav…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the questioner knows the affection I have for her as a friend and the respect I have for her as a parliamentary colleague. With enormous respect, my goal here is to offer protections to Canadians who do not see themselves reflected in the hate crimes included in Canada's Criminal Code today. We see too often that people are able to commit heinous acts with impunity against their fel…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for the conversations we have shared not only on this matter but on a series of different areas of criminal justice reform in recent days. I think it is important to understand what we are seeking to achieve. We are not seeking to criminalize people who may dislike one another. We are not seeking to protect people from being offended or hearing someth…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, first, allow me to thank my colleague for his question and for giving me the opportunity to practise my French. During my conversations with visible minority groups, many people told me that the reforms set out in this bill need to be implemented. Some people made suggestions similar to the one the member just raised. I heard stories about religious leaders using the religious exemp…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I want to share a reflection about the parliamentary work of my colleague. She has been an inspiration to me for many years. I remember what she was subjected to when she had the courage to move forward with what was then Motion No. 103 to deal with Islamophobia in this country. Though I was proud to support it, I was so disappointed with the reaction from some corners of society to…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague has raised two questions. With respect to the first, by way of summary, we engaged directly with law enforcement who asked for simple definitions that would offer clarity to them and help them in enforcing the criminal law when it comes to hate crimes in this country. On the second issue, which engages the topic of the requirement that exists today that the Attorne…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we cannot be serious about public safety if we are not serious about gun crime. My hon. colleague on the other side of the House raises concerns about the illegal flow of guns across the border. When he was in government, he made cuts that made it easier for illegal guns to come across the border. We are going to be adding 1,000 officers at the border. He has also campaigned on a comm…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to public safety in this country, we agree that there is work to do when it comes to bail reform and to tightened sentencing, which is why we will be introducing legislation that makes the criminal justice system treat serious crime with more serious consequences going forward. A point of disagreement between the government and the opposition is the role of assault-style…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we do not want to change the Constitution. We want to give the Supreme Court the opportunity to clarify the Constitution. It is very important for the federal government to defend our Constitution. Now, the case is before the Supreme Court of Canada. That is the appropriate forum for presenting arguments, not the House of Commons.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it should not have been a surprise. We have held the same position for years. When the case reached the Supreme Court of Canada, we filed an intervention. It is very important for the federal government to defend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and defend the rights of people across the country. As the member knows full well, the case ended up at the Supreme Court of Canad…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the commitment to hire 1,000 officers at the border, I would point my hon. colleague opposite to the election campaign platform that Canadians across the country, including in the riding of Carleton, supported to make sure that we would defend our border against the flow of illegal guns and drugs coming into Canada. For years, I have watched Conservatives brush away gu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, if the member is concerned about advancing legislation that is actually going to keep Canadians safe, he would work across the aisle with us as we seek to table legislation during this legislative sitting to ensure that violent repeat offenders are kept behind bars and make sure the most serious offenders are facing stiffer penalties. It is hard to accept criticism, when it comes to k…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have news for my friend on the other side of the House of Commons. If he believes that I have not moved forward with legislative efforts this sitting when it comes to criminal justice reform, I would have invited him to show up for work on Friday last week, when we did that very thing. The member should look forward in this fall sitting to seeing two additional pieces of criminal le…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this case deals with issues of national interest. It is very important for the federal government to intervene to protect the Constitution. As the member is well aware, this case is before the Supreme Court of Canada, which is the appropriate forum for making such arguments.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have immense respect for my colleague's service and that of his colleagues. However, I disagree with a number of the points he made. He referred to policies of the Liberal government, but he may not appreciate that the very policies he criticizes made it harder for people charged with intimate partner violence to get bail and made it harder for people to avoid sentencing when it cam…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the circumstances my hon. colleague raises clearly engage heinous crimes that need to be taken absolutely seriously. I spent a number of the last few months meeting with law enforcement, meeting with people who work within the criminal justice system and meeting with people who have dedicated their lives and careers to improving public safety in this country. Not one of them has come …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we agree that we need to take action to ensure that violent repeat offenders are not left on our streets. However, it is curious, the strategy that the Conservatives have chosen. The law they are putting forward now has been shown to be a failure in every jurisdiction in which it has been tried. It is a theory that has come directly out of the United States. I do not know if the oppos…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, with respect to my hon. colleague, I am sure she knows that we are moving forward with bail reform legislation that will be tabled in the House this fall. I had the opportunity yesterday to connect with a number of my critics, including the Conservative critic, to discuss items of mutual concern. Our belief on this side of the House is that we need to strengthen our bail laws and our …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that this case raises issues that are of national interest. It is appropriate and essential for the federal government to defend our charter. As the member is aware, this matter is now before the Supreme Court of Canada. That is the appropriate forum for making arguments.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places). (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I thank my Conservative colleagues for the applause. I hope they will meet that with their votes when it comes time to support the legislation we will be advancing this fall. I have good news for my friend opposite. This legislation would include serious reforms to make stricter bail conditions for people who are repeat violent offenders. It would have harsher sentences for those peop…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank my hon. colleague for raising this question on the floor of the House of Commons. Such horrific acts can be met only with condemnation from members of Parliament on both sides of the aisle. As we seek to move forward with legislation, we will be restricting conditional sentence orders when it comes to sexual crimes and sexual crimes against children. We will do what …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to good ideas, I can assure my colleague opposite that I have been taking them from law enforcement, from provincial governments and from stakeholders in the public safety space since the day of my appointment to this position. We will be introducing legislation that would strengthen Canada's bail system, making it harder for repeat violent offenders and for those who co…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this is the second time this week I have received a question about a piece of legislation that the questioner has seemingly not read. Bill C-5, among other things, actually restricts the use of conditional sentencing orders for serious crimes, such as attempted murder and advocating genocide. We want to continue to put measures in place that will have harsher sentences for repeat viol…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the legal challenge to the appointment of this judge to the Quebec Superior Court. Canada has a very robust and independent judicial appointment process, and we want to keep it that way. Judicial independence is an important foundation of our democracy. It protects the rule of law. To say otherwise undermines those principles. We will always defend the independence of …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the member will appreciate that we have a different perspective. We expect the justice to make decisions independently based on the law. The rule of law in this country is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, with which we may not show compromise. We must insist that we have an independent process based on recommendations by people who can assess the validity of the nominations that…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, dangerous people who commit serious crimes should not be walking freely in our streets if they pose a public safety threat to Canadians. I have good news—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important that we come to understand the process by which we nominate judges benefits from the independent advice of those who are experts in assessing the quality of those who are elevated to the bench. It is extremely important that we maintain the independence of the judiciary if we are going to count on our democracy to serve future generations of Canadians. To …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge that there is a legal challenge surrounding the appointment of this judge to the Quebec Superior Court. The Canadian judicial appointment process is among the most thorough and independent in the world, and we remain committed to preserving it. Judicial independence is one of the cornerstones of our democracy and it is essential to protecting the rule of law. Any sugges…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, obviously these circumstances my hon. colleague raises constitute an entire tragedy that should shock the conscience of every Canadian. However, when the hon. member poses a question about repealing Bill C-75, I would suggest it is a good idea to read it first. He does not seem to understand that that bill actually makes it harder for people who are charged with intimate partner viole…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is encouraging to see there is alignment between the Conservative opposition and the Liberal government when it comes to improving public safety, including through the adoption of stronger laws to help build safer communities. I have good news for my colleague. We will be introducing legislation during this parliamentary session to strengthen bail reform in this country, to have ha…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and its funding allocations from January 1, 2020, to June 18, 2025, the agency does not track this information by riding. Producing a comprehensive response would require manual collection and validation of information, which is not possible in the time allotted and could lead to the disclosure of incomplete and misleading inform…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have good news to report. Canadians elected a new Liberal government, in part on the promise to advance reforms that will stiffen bail proceedings and adopt more serious sentences for violent repeat offenders. In addition to the changes to the Criminal Code that the member should expect to see later this calendar year, we are making investments to give law enforcement the tools they…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when dangerous people who pose a threat to the public commit serious offences, they should be treated with the concomitant sentencing and bail decisions from the courts. We are going to be advancing reforms that we campaigned on in the fall. We intend, specifically, to change the bail rules as they pertain to home invasions, auto theft and organized crime. We will also advance new sen…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague that extortion is illegal in Canada, and those who perpetrate it should be apprehended and punished to the full extent of the law. Specifically, if the hon. member examines this section of the Criminal Code, he will see that there are mandatory minimums when it comes to certain offences committed with a firearm relating to extortion. Moreover, the maxi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives talk a big game when it comes to a tough-on-crime agenda, but they fail to point out that one of their members, earlier this week, put a motion before the justice committee that would make it easier for those charged with intimate partner violence to be released on bail. We were elected on a campaign commitment to put forward rules that would strengthen the bail syst…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is clear the fentanyl crisis is responsible for the taking of innocent lives in this country. It is incumbent upon all members of the House to approach this with empathy, but also with a level of seriousness to prevent fentanyl from sweeping through the nation and causing such damage. Going forward, we are going to be implementing a series of reforms that will target violent offend…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is essential that we approach this issue with the seriousness with which it deserves, including respect for decisions that have come from courts in the country. As we move forward, we are going to work in a manner that will ensure that serious crimes will be treated seriously and that serious offenders will be punished seriously. I hope we can avoid turning something as serious as …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is beyond reprehensible that a member of the House would accuse another member of caring more about criminals than about Canadians. We should be able to work together to, certainly, punish wrongdoers but also to give law enforcement the tools it needs to keep their community safe. We have been giving tools to law enforcement so that we not only punish wrongdoers after a crime has b…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether the member's eyes betray him, but we are here and ready to work to advance reforms to protect our communities. Yesterday at the justice committee, although the accusation is that there was an attempt to get home early for summer, what actually happened was that a Conservative member was seeking to advance reforms that would have made it easier for people who have…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, first, let me acknowledge and thank my hon. colleague for his years of service to promote public safety in this country. We are working alongside police forces and federations representing frontline members to understand the needs of frontline officers to ensure they have the resources to help keep communities safe. In addition, we are moving forward with a series of reforms that are …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when dangerous people commit violent crimes, it is important they face serious criminal penalties. I would point out to the hon. member that extortion is illegal in this country, and its perpetrators must be apprehended and punished in accordance with the Criminal Code. When he looks at the mandatory minimum penalties, he will see that repeat violent offences involving firearms have a…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her work advancing important criminal reforms to keep communities safe. In the recent federal election, we were elected on a mandate to help give law enforcement the tools it needs to keep communities safe and to strengthen the Criminal Code. Specifically, we will be advancing legislative reforms to strengthen the bail system when it comes t…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is beyond reprehensible for a member of the House of Commons to suggest that one party or another puts criminals ahead of victims. We are going to advance important reforms to strengthen sentencing. We are going to take extortion seriously to ensure that people who suffer the consequences of these crimes see recourse through the criminal justice system. Importantly, it cannot only …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague raises extortion with a firearm. When repeat violent criminals commit offences of this nature, they face a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life imprisonment. When we see this kind of behaviour, we need not only to reform criminal laws to punish wrongdoers on the back end of such conduct, but to invest in our frontline officers who are keeping commun…
Read full speech →